The gens Visellia was a family at ancient Rome during the late Republic and early Empire. Two members of this gens achieved the consulship during the first century.[1]

Praenomina

The only praenomina associated with the Visellii appearing in history are Gaius and Lucius. Marcus, Publius, Quintus, and Titus appear in inscriptions.

Branches and cognomina

The surnames associated with the Visellii are Varro and Aculeo. The former was a hereditary cognomen of the family, while the latter appears to have been a personal surname. Varro originally designated a fool, or one given to foolishness, while Aculeo seems to be derived from the adjective aculeus, meaning "sharp, pointy, prickly," or "thorny," presumably a commentary on the acuteness of its bearer's mind, bestowed in contradiction to the family's hereditary surname.[2][3]

Members

See also

References

  1. ^ Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, p. 1228 ("Visellius Varro").
  2. ^ Chase, pp. 110, 111 ("Varro"), 112, 113 ("Aculeo").
  3. ^ Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. I, p. 18 ("Gaius Aculeo").
  4. ^ Cicero, De Oratore, i. 43, ii. 1, 65, Brutus, 76.
  5. ^ Cicero, Brutus, 76, In Verrem, i. 28, Epistulae ad Atticum, iii. 23.
  6. ^ Tacitus, Annales, iii. 41.
  7. ^ Fasti Capitolini, AE 1927, 101; 1940, 59, 60.
  8. ^ Fasti Antiates, CIL X, 6638, 6639.
  9. ^ Tacitus, Annales, iv. 17, 19.
  10. ^ Fasti Ostienses, CIL XIV, 244, 245, 4531–4546, 5354, 5355.

Bibliography

Categories