Marcus Porcius

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Marcus Porcius († around 50 BC) was a Roman official in Pompeii in the 1st century BC. Chr.

Marcus Porcius was not a long-established citizen of Pompeii. It is believed that he came to the Campanian city shortly before the establishment of the Sulla colony of Pompeii and was one of the founders of the colony. There he made a steep career as a magistrate . An inscription on the teatrum tectum , built in the first years of the Pompeii colony , names him and his counterpart Gaius Quinctius Valgus in their capacity as duumviri as responsible for the construction, which they had carried out on behalf of the city council.

If that does not yet indicate a large fortune of his own, one must assume that Marcus Porcius was a rich man, since he - again with Quinctius Valgus - had the amphitheater in Pompeii built with his own funds. The city's amphitheater was the first ever, so the two builders ventured into new territory. In the building inscription on the amphitheater, both are referred to as duumviri quinquennales - as five-year officials, censors . The establishment of the amphitheater is likely to be seen as the redemption of an election promise both made to be elected as censors.

Marcus Porcius is the first truly tangible resident of the city of Pompeii. He appears for the first time a few years before the colony was founded as quattuorvir - as a member of a four-man college - who together had donated an altar for the Apollon shrine.

For his services, the city council decided to keep Porcius - who, unlike Valgus, lived in Pompeii - the most prominent place for an honorary grave in front of the Herculan Gate. After his death a grave altar was erected for him there. The tomb was tended for over 100 years, although no descendants of Porcius are known. It can therefore be assumed that he was revered as an exemplary city father long after his death. At most, Marcus Holconius Rufus seems to have been his equal.

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personal data
SURNAME Porcius, Marcus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION ancient Roman official of the city of Pompeii
DATE OF BIRTH 2nd century BC BC or 1st century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH around 50 BC Chr.