The gens Terentilia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Only one member of this gens appears in history; Gaius Terentilius Arsa was tribune of the plebs in 462 BC.[1] A few others are known from inscriptions.

Origin

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The nomen Terentilius belongs to a large class of gentilicia derived from other names, typically cognomina ending in diminutive suffixes such as -ulus and -illus.[2] Here the name may be formed from another nomen, Terentius, for which the diminutive Terentillus is found. The antiquarian Varro, himself a member of the Terentia gens, derived this name from terenus, a Sabine word meaning "soft",[3] although Chase proposes the Latin terens, one who grinds or threshes.[4] One of the Terentilii known from inscriptions has an Oscan praenomen, Statius.[5]

Branches and cognomina

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The only surname associated with the early Terentilii is Arsa, also written Harsa. The later Terentilii have common cognomina, such as Firmus, strong,[6] and Rufus, red.[7]

Members

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This list includes abbreviated praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see filiation.
  • Gaius Terentilius Arsa,[i] tribune of the plebs in 462 BC, called for the establishment of a commission to codify the laws respecting the imperium of the consuls.[8][9][10]
  • Gaius Terentilius, a freedman named in an inscription from Praeneste in Latium.[11]
  • Publius Terentilius, built a tomb at Tarquinii in Etruria.[12]
  • Quintus Terentilius, the father of Quintus Terentilius Rufus.[13]
  • Statius Terentilius, the former master of Statius Terentilius Firmus.[5]
  • Titus Terentilius, the former master of Gaius Terentilius.[11]
  • Statius Terentilius St. l. Firmus, a freedman named in an inscription from Rome.[5]
  • Quintus Terentilius Q. f. Rufus, named in an inscription from Rome.[13]

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ Dionysius calls him Terentius, a more familiar nomen, but no other Terentii appear in history for more than two centuries.

References

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  1. ^ Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, p. 996 ("Terentius", No. 1).
  2. ^ Chase, pp. 122–124.
  3. ^ Macrobius, ii. 9.
  4. ^ Chase, p. 131.
  5. ^ a b c CIL VI, 27151.
  6. ^ New College Latin & English Dictionary, s. v. firmus.
  7. ^ Chase, p. 110.
  8. ^ Livy, iii. 9.
  9. ^ Dionysius, x. 1.
  10. ^ Broughton, vol. I, p. 36.
  11. ^ a b CIL I, 2480.
  12. ^ Torelli, Elogia Tarquiniensia, 25.
  13. ^ a b CIL VI, 36411.

Bibliography

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