Caecilier

The Gens Caecilia was a plebeian family ( gens ) in ancient Rome . It was one of the most important families in Rome, especially towards the end of the Republic. The male form of the name ( gentile name ) was Caecilius , the female Caecilia .

history

According to the legend, Caeculus , brother of the giant Cacus who was slain by Heracles and son of the god Vulcanus, was the progenitor . In the course of the family history, the Meteller branch in particular achieved power and prestige. Towards the end of the republic, the Caecilians, with Delmaticus and Pius, held the important office of Pontifex Maximus (“high priest”) twice . During the imperial era, the family played a rather insignificant role.

Known members

• Aulus Caecilius Faustinus , Roman consul 99

• Lucius Caecilius Metellus Denter , consul 284 BC Chr .;
• Lucius Caecilius Metellus , Consul 251 and 247 BC BC, pontifex maximus since 243 BC Chr .;
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus , Consul 206 BC. Chr .;
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus , Consul 143 BC. BC, censor 131 BC Chr .;
• Lucius Caecilius Metellus Calvus , Consul 142 BC Chr .;
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus , Consul 123 BC BC, censor 120 BC Chr .;
• Lucius Caecilius Metellus Delmaticus , Consul 119 BC BC, pontifex maximus since 115 BC Chr .;
• Lucius Caecilius Metellus Diadematus , Consul 117 BC Chr.,;
• Marcus Caecilius Metellus , Consul 115 BC Chr .;
• Gaius Caecilius Metellus Caprarius , Consul 113 BC BC, censor 102 BC Chr .;
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus , Consul 109 BC BC, censor 102 BC Chr .;
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos , consul 98 BC Chr .;
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius , consul 80 BC. Chr .;
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus , Consul 69 BC. Chr .;
• Lucius Caecilius Metellus , Consul 68 BC Chr .;
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer , Consul 60 BC Chr .;
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos , Consul 57 BC. Chr .;
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio , Consul 52 BC Chr .;
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus Silanus , consul 7 AD

• Gaius Caecilius Strabo († 117), Roman suffect consul 105
• Marcus Caecilius Cornutus (praetor) , acted as city praetor in 43 BC. Suicide during Octavian's march against Rome
• Lucius Caecilius Iucundus , banker in Pompeii
• Lucius Caecilius Optatus , Roman officer (imperial era)
• Sextus Caecilius Africanus , Roman jurist

Tomb of Caecilia Metella

The most famous building related to the family is the tomb of Caecilia Metella on the Via Appia Antica in Rome. It was made in the first half of the 1st century BC. Built for the daughter of General Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus .

literature

• Friedrich Münzer : Caecilius . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume III, 1, Stuttgart 1897, Sp. 1174 (with subsequent list).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ List of members of the gens Caecilia who held offices during the Roman Republic, see T. Robert S. Broughton : The Magistrates Of The Roman Republic. Vol. 2: 99 B.C.-31 B.C. Case Western Reserve University Press, Cleveland, Ohio 1952. Unchanged reprint 1968. (Philological Monographs. Ed. By the American Philological Association. Vol. 15, Part 2), pp. 538-540