The gens Pontilia was an obscure
plebeian family at
ancient Rome. Hardly any members of this
gens appear in history, but a number of them are mentioned in inscriptions.
Origin
The nomen Pontilius belongs to a class of
gentilicia which were originally derived from
cognomina ending in -ilus. However, such names were so common that the ending -ilius came to be regarded as a regular gentile-forming suffix, and was applied in cases where there was no morphological justification. This may have been the case with Pontilius, which is probably derived from the
OscanpraenomenPompo or Pomptus, which also gave rise to several other nomina, including Pompilius, Pomponius, and Pontius. Pompo was the Oscan cognate of the
Latin praenomen Quintus, and thus Pontilius was equivalent to Latin gentes such as
Quinctia and
Quinctilia.[1]
Praenomina
The chief praenomina of the Pontilii were Gaius, Marcus, Lucius, and Numerius. The first three were the most common praenomina throughout Roman history, while Numerius was mainly used by plebeian families, especially those of Oscan origin. Other praenomina are occasionally found, with instances of Publius, Sextus, and Titus, all of which were very common.
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Pontilius M. f., son of Marcus Pontilius Urbanus and Fortunata, buried at
Atina in
Lucania, in a tomb dating to the third century AD, or the latter part of the second.[4]
Gaius Pontilius, mentioned by
Appian one of the allied leaders during the
Social War, may be a mistake for "Gaius Pontidius", which is what he is called by
Velleius Paterculus.[5][6]
The gens Pontilia was an obscure
plebeian family at
ancient Rome. Hardly any members of this
gens appear in history, but a number of them are mentioned in inscriptions.
Origin
The nomen Pontilius belongs to a class of
gentilicia which were originally derived from
cognomina ending in -ilus. However, such names were so common that the ending -ilius came to be regarded as a regular gentile-forming suffix, and was applied in cases where there was no morphological justification. This may have been the case with Pontilius, which is probably derived from the
OscanpraenomenPompo or Pomptus, which also gave rise to several other nomina, including Pompilius, Pomponius, and Pontius. Pompo was the Oscan cognate of the
Latin praenomen Quintus, and thus Pontilius was equivalent to Latin gentes such as
Quinctia and
Quinctilia.[1]
Praenomina
The chief praenomina of the Pontilii were Gaius, Marcus, Lucius, and Numerius. The first three were the most common praenomina throughout Roman history, while Numerius was mainly used by plebeian families, especially those of Oscan origin. Other praenomina are occasionally found, with instances of Publius, Sextus, and Titus, all of which were very common.
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Pontilius M. f., son of Marcus Pontilius Urbanus and Fortunata, buried at
Atina in
Lucania, in a tomb dating to the third century AD, or the latter part of the second.[4]
Gaius Pontilius, mentioned by
Appian one of the allied leaders during the
Social War, may be a mistake for "Gaius Pontidius", which is what he is called by
Velleius Paterculus.[5][6]