The gens Ovinia was a
plebeian family at
Rome. Members of this
gens occur in history toward the end of the
Republic, and from then to at least the fourth century. They produced generations of
Roman senators, with Gaius Ovinius Tertullus obtaining the
consulship toward the end of the second century.[1]
Origin
The
nomenOvinius belongs to a class of gentilicia formed from other names using the suffix -inius. In this case, it seems to be a
patronymic surname derived from the
OscanpraenomenOvius.[2]
Branches and cognomina
Among the surnames of the Ovinii were Camillus, Rusticus, and Tertullus. Camillus was an ancient
cognomen referring to a youth in the service of a priestly office, and was made famous by the
dictatorMarcus Furius Camillus during the fourth century BC. Rusticus referred to someone of rural origin or habits. Tertullus is a diminutive of the cognomen Tertius, "third".[3]
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Ovinius, proposed a law known as the lex Ovinia, granting certain powers to the
censors in order to maintain the list of
senators. The law was passed by plebiscitum, but its date is uncertain.[1]
Quintus Ovinius, a Roman senator at the time of the
war between Octavian and Marcus Antonius, who had taken charge of
Cleopatra's spinning and weaving workshops.
Octavian, who considered this conduct disgraceful for a senator, had Ovinius put to death at the conclusion of the war.[4][5]
Ovinius Camillus, a senator who considered instigating a rebellion against the emperor
Severus Alexander. When his inclinations were discovered, the emperor treated him with clemency.[7][5]
Lucius Ovinius L. f. Rusticus Cornelianus, consul in AD 237, during the reign of
Maximinus Thrax. He had been
tribune of the plebs,
praetor, legate of one of the
legions in
Mysia inferior, and curator of the Via Tiburtina and the Via Flaminia.[8][1][9]
Rufria Ovinia L. f. L. n. Corneliana, daughter of the consul Rusticus Cornelianus.[10][6]
Ovinius Paternus, praefectus urbi in AD 281, could possibly be the same person as Nonius Paternus, the consul of 279.[11][5]
Lucius Ovinius Curius Proculus Modianus Africanus, consul in an uncertain year. His wife was Claudiana Eusebia, and he was the grandfather of Lucius Ovinius Africanus. His monument at Rome dates to the end of the third or the beginning of the fourth century.[12][5]
Lucius Ovinius Africanus, grandson of the consul Africanus.[12][5]
Ovinius Gallicanus, praefectus urbi in AD 316, and consul suffectus the following year.[13]
Aelius Lampridius, Aelius Spartianus, Flavius Vopiscus, Julius Capitolinus, Trebellius Pollio, and Vulcatius Gallicanus, Historia Augusta (
Augustan History).
The gens Ovinia was a
plebeian family at
Rome. Members of this
gens occur in history toward the end of the
Republic, and from then to at least the fourth century. They produced generations of
Roman senators, with Gaius Ovinius Tertullus obtaining the
consulship toward the end of the second century.[1]
Origin
The
nomenOvinius belongs to a class of gentilicia formed from other names using the suffix -inius. In this case, it seems to be a
patronymic surname derived from the
OscanpraenomenOvius.[2]
Branches and cognomina
Among the surnames of the Ovinii were Camillus, Rusticus, and Tertullus. Camillus was an ancient
cognomen referring to a youth in the service of a priestly office, and was made famous by the
dictatorMarcus Furius Camillus during the fourth century BC. Rusticus referred to someone of rural origin or habits. Tertullus is a diminutive of the cognomen Tertius, "third".[3]
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Ovinius, proposed a law known as the lex Ovinia, granting certain powers to the
censors in order to maintain the list of
senators. The law was passed by plebiscitum, but its date is uncertain.[1]
Quintus Ovinius, a Roman senator at the time of the
war between Octavian and Marcus Antonius, who had taken charge of
Cleopatra's spinning and weaving workshops.
Octavian, who considered this conduct disgraceful for a senator, had Ovinius put to death at the conclusion of the war.[4][5]
Ovinius Camillus, a senator who considered instigating a rebellion against the emperor
Severus Alexander. When his inclinations were discovered, the emperor treated him with clemency.[7][5]
Lucius Ovinius L. f. Rusticus Cornelianus, consul in AD 237, during the reign of
Maximinus Thrax. He had been
tribune of the plebs,
praetor, legate of one of the
legions in
Mysia inferior, and curator of the Via Tiburtina and the Via Flaminia.[8][1][9]
Rufria Ovinia L. f. L. n. Corneliana, daughter of the consul Rusticus Cornelianus.[10][6]
Ovinius Paternus, praefectus urbi in AD 281, could possibly be the same person as Nonius Paternus, the consul of 279.[11][5]
Lucius Ovinius Curius Proculus Modianus Africanus, consul in an uncertain year. His wife was Claudiana Eusebia, and he was the grandfather of Lucius Ovinius Africanus. His monument at Rome dates to the end of the third or the beginning of the fourth century.[12][5]
Lucius Ovinius Africanus, grandson of the consul Africanus.[12][5]
Ovinius Gallicanus, praefectus urbi in AD 316, and consul suffectus the following year.[13]
Aelius Lampridius, Aelius Spartianus, Flavius Vopiscus, Julius Capitolinus, Trebellius Pollio, and Vulcatius Gallicanus, Historia Augusta (
Augustan History).