Marcus Mettius
Encyclopedia
Marcus Mettius or Metius (fl. mid-1st century BC) was a supporter of Julius Caesar
in the 50s and 40s BC.
, Caesar sent Mettius and the Helvian
Celt Gaius Valerius Troucillus
as envoys to the Suebian
king Ariovistus
, in what is presented as a last-ditch effort to prevent a full-scale war. Instead, Ariovistus accuses the two of spying and arrests them. Troucillus is chained and subjected to at least psychological torture, but Mettius seems to have received better treatment, perhaps because he had a longstanding relationship (hospitium
) with the Suebian. The abuse of envoys was a violation of the ius gentium, the customary law of international relations, but it has been observed that Ariovistus's charge may not have been groundless.
Since Ariovistus had been declared a Friend of the Roman People (amicus populi romani
) during Caesar's consulship
in 59 BC, the hospitium between him and Mettius might have had to do with the diplomacy that led to the declaration of friendship. Mettius is sometimes identified as a businessman, presumably of the equestrian order; trade with the Germanic peoples
at the time might have involved slaves, animals, or goods. Caesar says only that he chose Mettius for the mission because of his ties to Ariovistus, and provides no further information about the man's social rank, ethnicity, or occupation.
(monetalis), one of four men (IIIIviri) minting both in his own name and in Caesar's. His fellow moneyers were L. Aemilius Buca, P. Sepulius Macer, and C. Cossutius Maridianus.
Coins from this period with iconography
of Juno Sospita bear the name of M. Mettius. The reverse of one coin features Sospita in a biga
(two-horse chariot
) holding a shield and spear and wearing her distinctive goat-horned headdress. On another, the obverse depicts Sospita and a coiled snake, with an image of Victory
in a biga on the reverse. A third type shows a girl and snake facing each other.
The cult of Juno Sospita was based in Lanuvium
, in Latium
. T.P. Wiseman
, however, noted that Mettii are found in Liguria
and the ethnically Celtic upper Po Valley
, and speculated whether Mettius had "adopted a Lanuvine coin type to divert attention from his real origin?"
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
in the 50s and 40s BC.
Diplomatic envoy
During the first year of the Gallic WarsGallic Wars
The Gallic Wars were a series of military campaigns waged by the Roman proconsul Julius Caesar against several Gallic tribes. They lasted from 58 BC to 51 BC. The Gallic Wars culminated in the decisive Battle of Alesia in 52 BC, in which a complete Roman victory resulted in the expansion of the...
, Caesar sent Mettius and the Helvian
Helvii
The Helvii were a relatively small Celtic polity west of the Rhône river on the northern border of Gallia Narbonensis. Their territory was roughly equivalent to the Vivarais, in the modern French department Ardèche...
Celt Gaius Valerius Troucillus
Gaius Valerius Troucillus
Gaius Valerius Troucillus or Procillus was a Helvian Celt who served as an interpreter and envoy for Julius Caesar in the first year of the Gallic Wars. Troucillus was a second-generation Roman citizen, and is one of the few ethnic Celts who can be identified both as a citizen and by affiliation...
as envoys to the Suebian
Suebi
The Suebi or Suevi were a group of Germanic peoples who were first mentioned by Julius Caesar in connection with Ariovistus' campaign, c...
king Ariovistus
Ariovistus
Ariovistus was a leader of the Suebi and other allied Germanic peoples in the second quarter of the 1st century BC. He and his followers took part in a war in Gaul, assisting the Arverni and Sequani to defeat their rivals the Aedui, after which they settled in large numbers in conquered Gallic...
, in what is presented as a last-ditch effort to prevent a full-scale war. Instead, Ariovistus accuses the two of spying and arrests them. Troucillus is chained and subjected to at least psychological torture, but Mettius seems to have received better treatment, perhaps because he had a longstanding relationship (hospitium
Hospitium
Hospitium , hospitality, among the Greeks and Romans, was of a twofold character: private and public.-Private:In Homeric times all strangers without exception, were regarded as being under the protection of Zeus Xenios, the god of strangers and suppliants...
) with the Suebian. The abuse of envoys was a violation of the ius gentium, the customary law of international relations, but it has been observed that Ariovistus's charge may not have been groundless.
Since Ariovistus had been declared a Friend of the Roman People (amicus populi romani
SPQR
SPQR is an initialism from a Latin phrase, Senatus Populusque Romanus , referring to the government of the ancient Roman Republic, and used as an official emblem of the modern day comune of Rome...
) during Caesar's consulship
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
in 59 BC, the hospitium between him and Mettius might have had to do with the diplomacy that led to the declaration of friendship. Mettius is sometimes identified as a businessman, presumably of the equestrian order; trade with the Germanic peoples
Germanic peoples
The Germanic peoples are an Indo-European ethno-linguistic group of Northern European origin, identified by their use of the Indo-European Germanic languages which diversified out of Proto-Germanic during the Pre-Roman Iron Age.Originating about 1800 BCE from the Corded Ware Culture on the North...
at the time might have involved slaves, animals, or goods. Caesar says only that he chose Mettius for the mission because of his ties to Ariovistus, and provides no further information about the man's social rank, ethnicity, or occupation.
Monetalis
In 44 BC, Mettius was a moneyerMoneyer
A moneyer is someone who physically creates money. Moneyers have a long tradition, dating back at least to ancient Greece. They became most prominent in the Roman Republic, continuing into the empire.-Roman Republican moneyers:...
(monetalis), one of four men (IIIIviri) minting both in his own name and in Caesar's. His fellow moneyers were L. Aemilius Buca, P. Sepulius Macer, and C. Cossutius Maridianus.
Coins from this period with iconography
Iconography
Iconography is the branch of art history which studies the identification, description, and the interpretation of the content of images. The word iconography literally means "image writing", and comes from the Greek "image" and "to write". A secondary meaning is the painting of icons in the...
of Juno Sospita bear the name of M. Mettius. The reverse of one coin features Sospita in a biga
Biga (chariot)
The biga is the two-horse chariot as used in ancient Rome for sport, transportation, and ceremonies. Other animals may replace horses in art and occasionally for actual ceremonies. The term biga is also used by modern scholars for the similar chariots of other Indo-European cultures, particularly...
(two-horse chariot
Chariot
The chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
) holding a shield and spear and wearing her distinctive goat-horned headdress. On another, the obverse depicts Sospita and a coiled snake, with an image of Victory
Victoria (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion, Victoria was the personified goddess of victory. She is the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Nike, and was associated with Bellona. She was adapted from the Sabine agricultural goddess Vacuna and had a temple on the Palatine Hill...
in a biga on the reverse. A third type shows a girl and snake facing each other.
The cult of Juno Sospita was based in Lanuvium
Lanuvium
Lanuvium is an ancient city of Latium , some 32 km southeast of Rome, a little southwest of the Via Appia....
, in Latium
Latium
Lazio is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, situated in the central peninsular section of the country. With about 5.7 million residents and a GDP of more than 170 billion euros, Lazio is the third most populated and the second richest region of Italy...
. T.P. Wiseman
T.P. Wiseman
Timothy Peter Wiseman FBA , who usually publishes as T.P. Wiseman and is named as Peter Wiseman in other sources, is a classical scholar and professor emeritus of the University of Exeter...
, however, noted that Mettii are found in Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
and the ethnically Celtic upper Po Valley
Cisalpine Gaul
Cisalpine Gaul, in Latin: Gallia Cisalpina or Citerior, also called Gallia Togata, was a Roman province until 41 BC when it was merged into Roman Italy.It bore the name Gallia, because the great body of its inhabitants, after the expulsion of the Etruscans, consisted of Gauls or Celts...
, and speculated whether Mettius had "adopted a Lanuvine coin type to divert attention from his real origin?"