The Catii may have been of
Vestinian origin; Gaius Catius, who served under
Marcus Antonius, is said to have belonged to this ancient race.[1] However, members of the family were already at Rome by the time of the
Second Punic War, when Quintus Catius was
plebeian aedile.[2] The philosopher
Catius was an
Insuber, a native of
Gallia Transpadana, and may have been a freedman of the gens, or perhaps his name arose by coincidence.[3] The nomen Catius itself may perhaps be related to a Roman divinity of that name, invoked for the purpose of granting children thoughtfulness and prudence.[3] The nomen Cattius, found in imperial times, may be a variation.[4]
The Catii may have been of
Vestinian origin; Gaius Catius, who served under
Marcus Antonius, is said to have belonged to this ancient race.[1] However, members of the family were already at Rome by the time of the
Second Punic War, when Quintus Catius was
plebeian aedile.[2] The philosopher
Catius was an
Insuber, a native of
Gallia Transpadana, and may have been a freedman of the gens, or perhaps his name arose by coincidence.[3] The nomen Catius itself may perhaps be related to a Roman divinity of that name, invoked for the purpose of granting children thoughtfulness and prudence.[3] The nomen Cattius, found in imperial times, may be a variation.[4]