Opimia gens explained

The gens Opimia, also written Opeimia on coins, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned during the time of the Samnite Wars, and they are mentioned in Roman historians from then down to the end of the Republic. The first of the Opimii to obtain the consulship was Quintus Opimius in 154 BC.[1]

Origin

The nomen Opimius is derived from the versatile Latin adjective opimus, which may be translated as "best, highest" or "fat, abundant, fruitful". The name belongs to a large class of gentilicia which were either Roman or which cannot be shown to have originated elsewhere.[2]

Praenomina

The chief praenomina of the Opimii seem to have been Quintus and Lucius, but the family also used Gaius and Marcus. All of these were very common names throughout Roman history.

Branches and cognomina

The only surname used by the Opimii of the Republic is Pansa, meaning "broad-footed". However, most of the Opimii mentioned in ancient writers bore no cognomina.[1] [3]

Members

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, p. 33 ("Opimia Gens").
  2. Chase, pp. 129–132.
  3. Chase, p. 110.
  4. Livy, x. 32.
  5. Broughton, vol. I, p. 180.
  6. Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage, pp. 239, 240.
  7. Polybius, xxxiii. 5, 7, 8.
  8. Livy, Epitome, 47.
  9. Obsequens, 76.
  10. Broughton, vol. I, pp. 447, 449.
  11. Plutarch, "The Life of Gaius Gracchus".
  12. Appian, Bellum Civile, i. 21–26.
  13. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, pp. 33, 34 ("Opimius", No. 3).
  14. Broughton, vol. I, pp. 520, 522 (note 1), 530, 531, 546.
  15. Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage, p. 281.
  16. Ampelius, c. 22.
  17. Cicero, In Verrem, i. 60.
  18. Pseudo-Asconius, In Ciceronis in Verrem, p. 200, ed. Orelli.
  19. Broughton, vol. II, p. 97.
  20. Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum, iv. 16. § 6.
  21. Caesar, De Bello Civili, iii. 38.
  22. Broughton, vol. II, p. 283.
  23. Horace, ii. 3. 124.