Maria (gens)

The gens Maria was a plebeian family at Rome. Its most celebrated member was Gaius Marius, one of the greatest generals of antiquity, and seven times consul.[1]

Origin of the gens

The nomen Marius appears to be derived from the Oscan praenomen Marius, in which case the family is probably of Sabine or Sabellic origin.[1][2]

Praenomina used by the gens

The Marii of the Republic used the praenomina Marcus, Gaius, Lucius, Quintus, and Sextus. Publius and Titus are found in imperial times.[1]

Branches and cognomina of the gens

The Marii of the Republic were never divided into any families, though in course of time, more especially under the emperors, several of the Marii assumed surnames. On coins we find the cognomina Capito and Trogus, but the identities of the individuals who bore these names is uncertain.[1]

Members of the gens

This list includes abbreviated praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see filiation.

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, William Smith, Editor.
  2. George Davis Chase, "The Origin of Roman Praenomina", in Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, vol. VIII (1897).
  3. Aulus Gellius, Noctes Atticae, x. 3.
  4. Appianus, Bellum Civile, i. 65, Hispanica, 100.
  5. Marcus Tullius Cicero, In Verrem, v. 16.
  6. Marcus Tullius Cicero, Epistulae ad Familiares, vii. 1-4, Epistulae ad Quintum Fratrem, ii. 10.
  7. Valerius Maximus, Factorum ac Dictorum Memorabilium libri IX, ii. 8. § 1.
  8. Quintus Asconius Pedianus, in Scauro, p. 19, ed. Orelli.
  9. Marcus Tullius Cicero, Epistulae ad Familiares, ii. 17.
  10. Marcus Tullius Cicero, Epistulae ad Familiares, xii. 15.
  11. Joseph Hilarius Eckhel, Doctrina Numorum Veterum, vol. v. p. 250.
  12. Valerius Maximus, Factorum ac Dictorum Memorabilium libri IX, vii. 8. § 6.
  13. Publius Cornelius Tacitus, Annales, iv. 36, vi. 19.
  14. Lucius Cassius Dio Cocceianus, Roman History, lviii. 22.
  15. Publius Cornelius Tacitus, Historiae, ii. 12, 13, iii. 42, 43.
  16. Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, Epistulae, ii, 11, 12.
  17. Lucius Cassius Dio Cocceianus, Roman History, lxxviii. 35.
  18. Flavius Vopiscus, Firm., 2.
  19. Aelius Spartianus, Hadrian, 2, Geta, 2, Septimius Severus, 15, Elagabalus, 11.
  20. Aelius Lampridius, Alexander Severus, 5, 30, 65, Commodus 13, 15.
  21. Vulcatius Gallicanus, Avidius Cassius, 6, 9.
  22. Julius Capitolinus, Clodius Albinus, 3, 9, 12.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "article name needed". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.