Numerius (praenomen)
Encyclopedia
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. The praenomen also gave rise to the patronymic gens Numeria.
Although Numerius was occasionally used by patrician gentes, such as the Furii and the Valerii, the only patrician family to use the name regularly was gens Fabia. Festus relates the story of how Numerius was introduced to the family after a survivor of the battle of the Cremera
married a daughter of Numerius Otacilius Maleventanus. The name was used more widely amongst the plebeians and in the countryside, and was relatively common in southern Italy.
was given to children who were born quickly and easily. In the epitome, De Praenominibus ("Concerning Praenomina"), by Julius Paris, Varro is quoted as stating that the feminine form, Numeria, was not a praenomen, but in this instance Paris indicated that he was mistaken. Numeria is found as a praenomen in inscriptions, including the funerary inscription of Numeria Atilia at Praeneste
.
Based in part on the story related by Festus, as well as various Oscan inscriptions and the popularity of the name in southern Italy, Chase concludes that Numerius was originally an Oscan praenomen. However, the name was widely used in Latium, and in the archaic form Numasios it is found in a number of Old Latin inscriptions. It may be an example of a praenomen that was shared by both Oscan and Latin.
Praenomen
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...
, or personal name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
, usually abbreviated N. The name was never especially common, but was used throughout the period of the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
, and into imperial times. The feminine form is Numeria. The praenomen also gave rise to the patronymic gens Numeria.
Although Numerius was occasionally used by patrician gentes, such as the Furii and the Valerii, the only patrician family to use the name regularly was gens Fabia. Festus relates the story of how Numerius was introduced to the family after a survivor of the battle of the Cremera
Cremera
Cremera is a 36.7 km Italian stream in Lazio which runs past Sacrofano, Formello, and Campagnano di Roma before falling into the Tiber about 10 km north of Rome...
married a daughter of Numerius Otacilius Maleventanus. The name was used more widely amongst the plebeians and in the countryside, and was relatively common in southern Italy.
Origin and Meaning of the Name
Numerius was generally connected with Numeria, the goddess of childbirth, and according to Marcus Terentius VarroMarcus Terentius Varro
Marcus Terentius Varro was an ancient Roman scholar and writer. He is sometimes called Varro Reatinus to distinguish him from his younger contemporary Varro Atacinus.-Biography:...
was given to children who were born quickly and easily. In the epitome, De Praenominibus ("Concerning Praenomina"), by Julius Paris, Varro is quoted as stating that the feminine form, Numeria, was not a praenomen, but in this instance Paris indicated that he was mistaken. Numeria is found as a praenomen in inscriptions, including the funerary inscription of Numeria Atilia at Praeneste
Palestrina
Palestrina is an ancient city and comune with a population of about 18,000, in Lazio, c. 35 km east of Rome...
.
Based in part on the story related by Festus, as well as various Oscan inscriptions and the popularity of the name in southern Italy, Chase concludes that Numerius was originally an Oscan praenomen. However, the name was widely used in Latium, and in the archaic form Numasios it is found in a number of Old Latin inscriptions. It may be an example of a praenomen that was shared by both Oscan and Latin.