Septimia (gens)

The gens Septimia was a plebeian family at Rome. The gens first appears in history towards the close of the Republic, and they did not achieve much importance until the latter half of the 2nd century, when Lucius Septimius Severus obtained the imperial dignity.[1]

Origin of the gens

The nomen Septimius is a patronymic surname, derived from the praenomen Septimus. Several other gentes obtained their nomina in this way, including the Quinctii from Quintus, the Sextii from Sextus, and the Octavii from Octavius.[1]

Praenomina used by the gens

The chief praenomina of the Septimii were Publius, Lucius, Gaius, and Titus. There are a few instances of other names, including Aulus, Marcus, and Quintus. The ancestor of the family must have been named Septimus, although none of the members who are known to history bore this praenomen.[1][2]

Branches and cognomina of the gens

The Septimii of the Republic were not clearly divided into separate families. A number of surnames are found at various periods, of which the most notable are Severus, meaning "stern, serious," or "severe," and Geta, referring to one of the Getae, a Thracian people. Both cognomina were associated with the imperial family of the late 2nd and early 3rd century. Severus had been borne by one of the Septimii early in the 1st century BC, but it was a common surname, and it is not known whether the imperial family was descended from that Septimius Severus.[1][3]

Members of the gens

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

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, William Smith, Editor.
  2. Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft.
  3. D.P. Simpson, Cassell's Latin & English Dictionary (1963).
  4. Marcus Tullius Cicero, In Verrem, Act. i. 13, Pro Cluentio, 41.
  5. Gaius Sallustius Crispus, The Conspiracy of Catiline, 27.
  6. Gaius Plinius Secundus, Historia Naturalis, xxxiv. 8. s. 19. § 35.
  7. Marcus Tullius Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum, ii. 24.
  8. Marcus Tullius Cicero, Pro Flacco, 4, 35.
  9. Marcus Tullius Cicero, Post Reditum in Senatu, 9, Epistulae ad Atticum, xii. 13, 14.
  10. Marcus Terentius Varro, De Lingua Latina libri XXV, v. 1, vii. 109, ed. Müller.
  11. Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, De Architectura, vii. Praef. p. 194, ed. Bip.
  12. Marcus Tullius Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum, xiv. 11.
  13. Appianus, Bellum Civile, iv. 23.
  14. Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Carmen Saeculare, ii. 6, Epistulae, i. 9.
  15. Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, Horatius.
  16. Publius Cornelius Tacitus, Annales, i. 32.
  17. Aelius Lampridius, Alexander Severus, 17, 48.
  18. Aelius Spartianus, Septimius Severus, 1.
  19. Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum, viii. 19493.

 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. 

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