Marcus Antonius, the
triumvir, claimed that his gens was descended from Anton, a son of
Heracles.[2] According to ancient traditions the Antonii were
Heracleidae and because of that Marcus Antonius harnessed lions to his chariot to commemorate his descent from Heracles, and many of his coins bore a lion for the same reason.[2][3][4][1]
Praenomina
The patrician Antonii used the
praenominaTitus and Quintus. Titus does not appear to have been used by the plebeian Antonii, who instead used Quintus,
Marcus,
Lucius, and Gaius. There are also a few instances of Aulus, while Marcus Antonius the triumvir named one of his sons Iulus. This name, also borne by a later descendant of the triumvir, may have been an ancient praenomen revived by the family, but it was probably also intended to call to mind the connections of his family with the illustrious gens Julia.
Branches and cognomina
The patrician Antonii bear the
cognomenMerenda; the plebeian Antonii bear no surname under the Republic, with the exception of Quintus Antonius,
propraetor in
Sardinia in the time of
Sulla, who is called Balbus on coins.[1]
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Marcus Antonius,
tribune of the plebs in 167 BC, opposed the bill introduced by the praetor Marcus Juventius Thalna for declaring war against the Rhodians.[14]
Antonius Flamma, governor of
Cyrenaica under Nero, banished at the beginning of Vespasian's reign for his extortion and cruelty.[34]
Antonius Novellus, one of
Otho's principal generals, but possessed no influence with the soldiery.[35]
Antonius Castor, a botanist at Rome during the first century, who lived more than a hundred years.[36]
Antonius Rufus, a Latin grammarian, and perhaps also a playwright, in the time of Quintilian.[37][38]
Antonius, a Roman of high rank, and a contemporary and friend of
Pliny the Younger, among whose letters there are three addressed to Antoninus. Pliny heaps the most extravagant praise upon his friend both for his personal character and his skill in composing Greek epigrams and iambics.[39]
Julius Antonius Seleucus, governor of Moesia in the early 3rd century. Possibly the same figure as the contemporary
usurper Seleucus, who revolted against
Elagabalus. Other sources identify him with the consul Marcus Flavius Vitellius Seleucus.
Marie-Thérèse Raepsaet-Charlier, Prosopographie des femmes de l'ordre sénatorial: Ier-IIe siècles (Prosopography of Women of the Senatorial Order: First and Second Centuries), Peeters, Louvain (1987).
Jörg Rüpke and Anne Glock, Fasti Sacerdotum: A Prosopography of Pagan, Jewish, and Christian Religious Officials in the City of Rome, 300 BC to AD 499, Oxford University Press (2008).
Alison E. Cooley, The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy, Cambridge University Press (2012).
Marcus Antonius, the
triumvir, claimed that his gens was descended from Anton, a son of
Heracles.[2] According to ancient traditions the Antonii were
Heracleidae and because of that Marcus Antonius harnessed lions to his chariot to commemorate his descent from Heracles, and many of his coins bore a lion for the same reason.[2][3][4][1]
Praenomina
The patrician Antonii used the
praenominaTitus and Quintus. Titus does not appear to have been used by the plebeian Antonii, who instead used Quintus,
Marcus,
Lucius, and Gaius. There are also a few instances of Aulus, while Marcus Antonius the triumvir named one of his sons Iulus. This name, also borne by a later descendant of the triumvir, may have been an ancient praenomen revived by the family, but it was probably also intended to call to mind the connections of his family with the illustrious gens Julia.
Branches and cognomina
The patrician Antonii bear the
cognomenMerenda; the plebeian Antonii bear no surname under the Republic, with the exception of Quintus Antonius,
propraetor in
Sardinia in the time of
Sulla, who is called Balbus on coins.[1]
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Marcus Antonius,
tribune of the plebs in 167 BC, opposed the bill introduced by the praetor Marcus Juventius Thalna for declaring war against the Rhodians.[14]
Antonius Flamma, governor of
Cyrenaica under Nero, banished at the beginning of Vespasian's reign for his extortion and cruelty.[34]
Antonius Novellus, one of
Otho's principal generals, but possessed no influence with the soldiery.[35]
Antonius Castor, a botanist at Rome during the first century, who lived more than a hundred years.[36]
Antonius Rufus, a Latin grammarian, and perhaps also a playwright, in the time of Quintilian.[37][38]
Antonius, a Roman of high rank, and a contemporary and friend of
Pliny the Younger, among whose letters there are three addressed to Antoninus. Pliny heaps the most extravagant praise upon his friend both for his personal character and his skill in composing Greek epigrams and iambics.[39]
Julius Antonius Seleucus, governor of Moesia in the early 3rd century. Possibly the same figure as the contemporary
usurper Seleucus, who revolted against
Elagabalus. Other sources identify him with the consul Marcus Flavius Vitellius Seleucus.
Marie-Thérèse Raepsaet-Charlier, Prosopographie des femmes de l'ordre sénatorial: Ier-IIe siècles (Prosopography of Women of the Senatorial Order: First and Second Centuries), Peeters, Louvain (1987).
Jörg Rüpke and Anne Glock, Fasti Sacerdotum: A Prosopography of Pagan, Jewish, and Christian Religious Officials in the City of Rome, 300 BC to AD 499, Oxford University Press (2008).
Alison E. Cooley, The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy, Cambridge University Press (2012).