Auria (gens)
Encyclopedia
The gens Auria was a Roman
family at Larinum
in southern Italy, known chiefly from Cicero's
oration, Pro Cluentio.
Marcus
, Numerius
, Aulus
, and Gaius
.
associated with this family is Melinus.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
family at Larinum
Larino
Larino is a town and comune of approximately 8,200 inhabitants in Molise, province of Campobasso, southern Italy. It is located in the fertile valley of the Biferno River....
in southern Italy, known chiefly from Cicero's
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
oration, Pro Cluentio.
Praenomina used by the gens
The Aurii are known to have used the praenominaPraenomen
The praenomen was a personal name chosen by the parents of a Roman child. It was first bestowed on the dies lustricus , the eighth day after the birth of a girl, or the ninth day after the birth of a boy...
Marcus
Marcus (praenomen)
Marcus is a Latin praenomen, or personal name, which was one of the most common names throughout Roman history. The feminine form is Marca or Marcia. The praenomen was used by both patrician and plebeian families, and gave rise to the patronymic gens Marcia, as well as the cognomen Marcellus...
, Numerius
Numerius (praenomen)
Numerius is a Latin praenomen, or personal name, usually abbreviated N. The name was never especially common, but was used throughout the period of the Roman Republic, and into imperial times. The feminine form is Numeria...
, Aulus
Aulus (praenomen)
Aulus is a Latin praenomen, or personal name, which was common throughout Roman history from the earliest times to the end of the Western Empire in the fifth century. The feminine form is Aula. An alternative pronunciation leads to the variant spellings Olus or Ollus and Olla. Aulus was widely...
, and Gaius
Gaius (praenomen)
Gaius is a Latin praenomen, or personal name, which was one of the most common names throughout Roman history. The feminine form is Gaia. The praenomen was used by both patrician and plebeian families, and gave rise to the patronymic gens Gavia...
.
Branches and cognomina of the gens
The only cognomenCognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
associated with this family is Melinus.
Members of the gens
- Marcus Aurius, taken prisoner at the Battle of AsculumBattle of Asculum (89 BC)* Bulleted list itemThe Battle of Asculum was fought in 89 BC during the Social War between Rome and its former Italian allies. The Romans were led by C. Pompeius Strabo, and were victorious over the rebels. The future Consul Publius Ventidius was said to have been captured as a youth at this...
during the Social War, in 89 B.C., and subsequently murdered by Statius Albius Oppianicus. - Numerius Aurius, predeceased his brother, Marcus.
- Auria, wife of Gaius Albius Oppianicus, murdered, together with her husband, by his brother, Statius.
- Aulus Aurius Melinus, threatened to prosecute Oppianicus, but later proscribed and put to death by him.
- Gaius Aurius A. f., proscribed and put to death by Oppianicus.
- Auria A. f., daughter-in-law of Oppianicus.