Denarius of Gnaeus Nerius, 49 BC. The obverse depicts Saturn, in whose temple the standards of the legions were kept. The reverse shows an aquila between two standards, inscribed H for Hastati and P for Principes, and the names of the consuls.[1]
The gens Neria was a minor
plebeian family at
Rome. Members of this
gens are first mentioned in the time of
Caesar, when Gnaeus Nerius was
quaestor, but few if any others are known to have held
Roman magistracies. Many Nerii are known from inscriptions. A coin issued by the quaestor Nerius depicts the head of
Saturn on the obverse, and standards labeled with the names of the consuls on the reverse, perhaps alluding to Caesar having broken open the treasury, or showing the legitimacy of the Senate to the legions against the rebellion of Caesar.[2][3][4]
Origin
The
nomenNerius is identical to, and probably derived from, the Umbrian or Sabine
praenomenNerius or Nero, which was traditionally described as meaning fortis ac strenuus, "strong and sturdy". This would seem to indicate that the Nerii were probably of
Umbrian or
Sabine origin.[5] Such an origin is supported by an inscription from
Capua, mentioning an Ovius Nerius,[6]Ovius being a common
Oscan praenomen.[7]
Praenomina
The Nerii used a wide variety of praenomina, such as Lucius,
Gaius,
Titus,
Gnaeus,
Publius,
Quintus,
Marcus,
Sextus, and Aulus, all of which were common throughout Roman history. The frequency with which some of these were used may have been increased by the number of
freedmen of the gens, since a manumitted slave typically assumed both the praenomen and nomen of his former master. The surviving inscriptions also include one example of Numerius, a less common praenomen, and Ovius, an Oscan praenomen, presumably belonging to a Sabine or
Samnite member of the family.
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Gnaeus Nerius, as quaestor urbanus in 49 BC, had charge of the
aerarium, the treasury of the
Republic, where the standards were kept, as part of the
Temple of Saturn. He may be the same Gnaeus Nerius who in 56 BC accused
Publius Sestius of bribery; Sestius was successfully defended by
Cicero in his oration, Pro Sestio. He supported
Pompeius during the
Civil War.[8][3][9]
Numerius Nerius Hyginus, named in an inscription from
Pompeii.[15]
Gaius Nerius Pannuchus, probably a freedman, was the husband of Neria Filenis, and the father of Philemon.[16]
Neria Filenis, probably a freedwoman, was the wife of Gaius Nerius Pannuchus, and the mother of Philemon.[16]
Gaius Nerius Philemon, son of Gaius Nerius Pannuchus and Neria Filenis, buried at Rome, aged three years, eight months.[16]
Lucius Nerius, mentioned in an inscription from Rome.[17]
Marcus Nerius M. l. Quadratus, a freedman named in an inscription from Rome, was a goldsmith along the
Vicus Longus.[18]
Quintus Nerius Capito, erected a monument to his beloved Julia Dynamis at Rome.[19]
Gaius Nerius Florus, erected a monument to his wife, Plotia Acra, at Rome.[20]
Nerius Hiero, probably a freedman, buried at Rome.[21]
Neria Dorothea, probably a freedwoman, buried at Rome.[21]
Marcus Nerius M. l. Stephanus, named in an inscription from Rome.[22]
Nerius Aprio, probably a freedman, was the husband of Neria Pallas, and father of Neria.[23]
Neria Pallas, probably a freedwoman, was the wife of Nerius Aprio, and mother of Neria.[23]
Neria, the daughter of Nerius Aprio and Neria Pallas, buried at Rome, aged six years, two months.[23]
Nerius Fortunatus, erected a monument to his wife at
Carthage.[24]
Gaius Nerius C. f. Severus,
aedile, quaestor, and
flamen, according to a monument erected by his brother, Gaius Nerius Justus, at
Peltuinum in
Samnium.[25]
Gaius Nerius C. f. Justus, erected a monument to his brother, Gaius Nerius Severus.[25]
Sextus Nerius Sex. l. Musa, buried at
Brixellum.[26]
Quintus Nerius C. f., mentioned in an inscription from
Clusium.[27]
Denarius of Gnaeus Nerius, 49 BC. The obverse depicts Saturn, in whose temple the standards of the legions were kept. The reverse shows an aquila between two standards, inscribed H for Hastati and P for Principes, and the names of the consuls.[1]
The gens Neria was a minor
plebeian family at
Rome. Members of this
gens are first mentioned in the time of
Caesar, when Gnaeus Nerius was
quaestor, but few if any others are known to have held
Roman magistracies. Many Nerii are known from inscriptions. A coin issued by the quaestor Nerius depicts the head of
Saturn on the obverse, and standards labeled with the names of the consuls on the reverse, perhaps alluding to Caesar having broken open the treasury, or showing the legitimacy of the Senate to the legions against the rebellion of Caesar.[2][3][4]
Origin
The
nomenNerius is identical to, and probably derived from, the Umbrian or Sabine
praenomenNerius or Nero, which was traditionally described as meaning fortis ac strenuus, "strong and sturdy". This would seem to indicate that the Nerii were probably of
Umbrian or
Sabine origin.[5] Such an origin is supported by an inscription from
Capua, mentioning an Ovius Nerius,[6]Ovius being a common
Oscan praenomen.[7]
Praenomina
The Nerii used a wide variety of praenomina, such as Lucius,
Gaius,
Titus,
Gnaeus,
Publius,
Quintus,
Marcus,
Sextus, and Aulus, all of which were common throughout Roman history. The frequency with which some of these were used may have been increased by the number of
freedmen of the gens, since a manumitted slave typically assumed both the praenomen and nomen of his former master. The surviving inscriptions also include one example of Numerius, a less common praenomen, and Ovius, an Oscan praenomen, presumably belonging to a Sabine or
Samnite member of the family.
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Gnaeus Nerius, as quaestor urbanus in 49 BC, had charge of the
aerarium, the treasury of the
Republic, where the standards were kept, as part of the
Temple of Saturn. He may be the same Gnaeus Nerius who in 56 BC accused
Publius Sestius of bribery; Sestius was successfully defended by
Cicero in his oration, Pro Sestio. He supported
Pompeius during the
Civil War.[8][3][9]
Numerius Nerius Hyginus, named in an inscription from
Pompeii.[15]
Gaius Nerius Pannuchus, probably a freedman, was the husband of Neria Filenis, and the father of Philemon.[16]
Neria Filenis, probably a freedwoman, was the wife of Gaius Nerius Pannuchus, and the mother of Philemon.[16]
Gaius Nerius Philemon, son of Gaius Nerius Pannuchus and Neria Filenis, buried at Rome, aged three years, eight months.[16]
Lucius Nerius, mentioned in an inscription from Rome.[17]
Marcus Nerius M. l. Quadratus, a freedman named in an inscription from Rome, was a goldsmith along the
Vicus Longus.[18]
Quintus Nerius Capito, erected a monument to his beloved Julia Dynamis at Rome.[19]
Gaius Nerius Florus, erected a monument to his wife, Plotia Acra, at Rome.[20]
Nerius Hiero, probably a freedman, buried at Rome.[21]
Neria Dorothea, probably a freedwoman, buried at Rome.[21]
Marcus Nerius M. l. Stephanus, named in an inscription from Rome.[22]
Nerius Aprio, probably a freedman, was the husband of Neria Pallas, and father of Neria.[23]
Neria Pallas, probably a freedwoman, was the wife of Nerius Aprio, and mother of Neria.[23]
Neria, the daughter of Nerius Aprio and Neria Pallas, buried at Rome, aged six years, two months.[23]
Nerius Fortunatus, erected a monument to his wife at
Carthage.[24]
Gaius Nerius C. f. Severus,
aedile, quaestor, and
flamen, according to a monument erected by his brother, Gaius Nerius Justus, at
Peltuinum in
Samnium.[25]
Gaius Nerius C. f. Justus, erected a monument to his brother, Gaius Nerius Severus.[25]
Sextus Nerius Sex. l. Musa, buried at
Brixellum.[26]
Quintus Nerius C. f., mentioned in an inscription from
Clusium.[27]