The gens Suettia or Suetia was an obscure
plebeian family at
ancient Rome. Members of this
gens are mentioned in the time of
Cicero, but none of them achieved any of the higher offices of the Roman state.[1]
Origin
The
nomenSuettius is probably derived from the
Latin adjective suetus, "familiar".[2][3] Chase classifies the nomen among those gentilicia that either originated at Rome, or cannot be shown to have come from anywhere else.[2] However, several early inscriptions of this gens are from
Campania, and many others are concentrated in the Campanian cities of
Casilinum and
Pompeii, strongly hinting at a Campanian origin.[4]
Praenomina
The Suettii employed a variety of common
praenomina, chiefly Aulus, Gaius, Lucius, Servius, and Sextus. Of these, only Servius was relatively distinctive, although by no means rare. Other praenomina are found on occasion, and in one inscription we find an Anthus Suettius, perhaps an example of a
cognomen being used in place of a praenomen, or perhaps an old praenomen more typically found as a surname.[5]
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Servius Suetius Ser. l., a freedman and balneator, or bath attendant, named in an inscription from
Casilinum in
Campania, dating from 106 BC.[6]
Marcus Suetius, the master of the slave Dipilus, named in an inscription dating from Casilinum, dating from 98 BC.[7]
Anthus Suettius P. f., a youth buried at Casilinum, aged fifteen, during the latter half of the first century BC, with a monument from his father, Publius.[5]
Publius Suettius, dedicated a tomb at Casilinum to his son, Anthus, who died during the latter half of the first century BC.[5]
Suettia Ɔ. l. Trophime, a freedwoman buried at Casilinum during the latter half of the first century BC, with a monument dedicated by the freedman Gnaeus Sextius Gorgia.[9]
Gaius Suettius, the master of Faustus, a slave named in an inscription from
Aquinum in
Latium, dating from 13 BC.[10]
Suetia Cn. l. Hilara, a freedwoman buried at
Allifae in
Samnium, during the late first century BC, or early first century AD.[11]
Publius Suetius P. l. Musicus, a freedman buried at Casilinum during the late first century BC, or early first century AD.[12]
Suettia Proba, buried at
Luceria in
Apulia during the first half of the first century, in a sepulchre built by her husband, Lucius Aemilius Speratus, an Apollinaris, or priest of
Apollo, and Augustalis.[13]
Gaius Suettius Blandus, named in a funerary inscription from
Puteoli in
Campania, dating between AD 1 and 70.[14]
Suettia Fausta, named in an inscription from Puteoli, dating between AD 1 and 70.[15]
Gaius Suettius Dama, named in an inscription from
Pompeii in Campania, dating from AD 38.[16]
Sextus Suettius, named in an inscription from Pompeii, dating between AD 30 and 60.[17]
Aulus Suettius Ephebus, named in an inscription from Pompeii, dating between AD 30 and 60.[18]
Sextus Suettius Romanus, dedicated a first-century tomb at Rome to his
patrons, whose names have not been preserved.[19]
Suettia Tertia, dedicated four pots at Rome in memory of her husband, the freedman Lucius Mettius Bithus, during the first century.[20]
Gaius Suettius Damascenus, named in an inscription from Pompeii, dating from AD 61.[21]
Aulus Suettius Felix, named in an inscription from Pompeii, dating from AD 61.[22]
Gaius Suettius M[...], named in an inscription from Pompeii, dating from AD 61.[22]
Lucius Suettius, one of the
aediles at Pompeii.[23]
Aulus Suettius Certus, one of the municipal
duumvirs at Pompeii between AD 72 and 74. He was also named in connection with a
gladiatorial school.[24]
Aulus Suettius Partenio, a freedman participating in gladiatorial contests at Puteoli, taking place from the sixteenth to the thirteenth day before the Kalends of April,[i] probably in the late 70s AD.[25]
Suettius Sabinus, named in an inscription from Pompeii.[26]
Aulus Suettius Verus, one of the aediles at Pompeii in AD 77 or 78, was duumvir between 76 and 78.[27]
Servius Suettius Ser. l. Cimber, a freedman who made an offering to
Mercury at Casilinum during the first century.[28]
Lucius Suetius L. l. Amphio, a freedman at
Luna in
Etruria, who made an offering to
Fortuna during the first or second century.[29]
Suetius, named in an inscription from the Roman fort at
Vindolanda in
Britannia, dating from AD 102.[30]
Suettia Iotape, dedicated a second-century tomb at Puteoli to her parents, Minucius Prosdoca and Minucia Euterpe.[31]
Quintus Suettius Primigenius, along with Quintus Suettius Valens, one of the priests of Apollo at
Philippi in
Macedonia, during the second century.[32]
Suettia Psyche, dedicated a second-century tomb at Rome to her husband, Lucius Lucretius Martialis, aged fifty.[33]
Quintus Suettius Valens, along with Quintus Suettius Primigenius, one of the priests of Apollo at Philippi, during the second century.[32]
Suettia L. f. Victoria, buried in a second-century tomb at Puteoli, aged twenty-two years, three months, with a monument from her son, Marcianus, and mother, Tryphenia.[34]
Undated Suettii
Suettia, the wife of Antigonus, with whom she dedicated a tomb at Rome to their patron, Servius Suettius Demetrius, and the freedman Hermaiscus.[35]
Suettius, named in an inscription from Aquinum.[36]
Servius Suettius Ser. l. Demetrius, a freedman buried at Rome, along with the freedman Hermaiscus, in a tomb dedicated by his
clients, Antigonus and Suettia.[35]
Sextus Suettius Sex. l. Felix, a freedman named in a sepulchral inscription from Rome.[40]
Suettius L[...]rax, a freedman, together with his wife, Cornelia Procla, dedicated a tomb at Rome to his patron, Sextus Suettius Romanus.[41]
Gaius Suettius Magnus, made an offering at
Berytus in
Syria.[42]
Suettia C. l. Prima, a freedwoman, mentioned in an inscription from Rome, along with the freedman Decimus Junius Philodamus.[43]
Suettia L. f. Procula, buried at Castellum Fabatianum in
Numidia, aged sixty.[44]
The gens Suettia or Suetia was an obscure
plebeian family at
ancient Rome. Members of this
gens are mentioned in the time of
Cicero, but none of them achieved any of the higher offices of the Roman state.[1]
Origin
The
nomenSuettius is probably derived from the
Latin adjective suetus, "familiar".[2][3] Chase classifies the nomen among those gentilicia that either originated at Rome, or cannot be shown to have come from anywhere else.[2] However, several early inscriptions of this gens are from
Campania, and many others are concentrated in the Campanian cities of
Casilinum and
Pompeii, strongly hinting at a Campanian origin.[4]
Praenomina
The Suettii employed a variety of common
praenomina, chiefly Aulus, Gaius, Lucius, Servius, and Sextus. Of these, only Servius was relatively distinctive, although by no means rare. Other praenomina are found on occasion, and in one inscription we find an Anthus Suettius, perhaps an example of a
cognomen being used in place of a praenomen, or perhaps an old praenomen more typically found as a surname.[5]
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Servius Suetius Ser. l., a freedman and balneator, or bath attendant, named in an inscription from
Casilinum in
Campania, dating from 106 BC.[6]
Marcus Suetius, the master of the slave Dipilus, named in an inscription dating from Casilinum, dating from 98 BC.[7]
Anthus Suettius P. f., a youth buried at Casilinum, aged fifteen, during the latter half of the first century BC, with a monument from his father, Publius.[5]
Publius Suettius, dedicated a tomb at Casilinum to his son, Anthus, who died during the latter half of the first century BC.[5]
Suettia Ɔ. l. Trophime, a freedwoman buried at Casilinum during the latter half of the first century BC, with a monument dedicated by the freedman Gnaeus Sextius Gorgia.[9]
Gaius Suettius, the master of Faustus, a slave named in an inscription from
Aquinum in
Latium, dating from 13 BC.[10]
Suetia Cn. l. Hilara, a freedwoman buried at
Allifae in
Samnium, during the late first century BC, or early first century AD.[11]
Publius Suetius P. l. Musicus, a freedman buried at Casilinum during the late first century BC, or early first century AD.[12]
Suettia Proba, buried at
Luceria in
Apulia during the first half of the first century, in a sepulchre built by her husband, Lucius Aemilius Speratus, an Apollinaris, or priest of
Apollo, and Augustalis.[13]
Gaius Suettius Blandus, named in a funerary inscription from
Puteoli in
Campania, dating between AD 1 and 70.[14]
Suettia Fausta, named in an inscription from Puteoli, dating between AD 1 and 70.[15]
Gaius Suettius Dama, named in an inscription from
Pompeii in Campania, dating from AD 38.[16]
Sextus Suettius, named in an inscription from Pompeii, dating between AD 30 and 60.[17]
Aulus Suettius Ephebus, named in an inscription from Pompeii, dating between AD 30 and 60.[18]
Sextus Suettius Romanus, dedicated a first-century tomb at Rome to his
patrons, whose names have not been preserved.[19]
Suettia Tertia, dedicated four pots at Rome in memory of her husband, the freedman Lucius Mettius Bithus, during the first century.[20]
Gaius Suettius Damascenus, named in an inscription from Pompeii, dating from AD 61.[21]
Aulus Suettius Felix, named in an inscription from Pompeii, dating from AD 61.[22]
Gaius Suettius M[...], named in an inscription from Pompeii, dating from AD 61.[22]
Lucius Suettius, one of the
aediles at Pompeii.[23]
Aulus Suettius Certus, one of the municipal
duumvirs at Pompeii between AD 72 and 74. He was also named in connection with a
gladiatorial school.[24]
Aulus Suettius Partenio, a freedman participating in gladiatorial contests at Puteoli, taking place from the sixteenth to the thirteenth day before the Kalends of April,[i] probably in the late 70s AD.[25]
Suettius Sabinus, named in an inscription from Pompeii.[26]
Aulus Suettius Verus, one of the aediles at Pompeii in AD 77 or 78, was duumvir between 76 and 78.[27]
Servius Suettius Ser. l. Cimber, a freedman who made an offering to
Mercury at Casilinum during the first century.[28]
Lucius Suetius L. l. Amphio, a freedman at
Luna in
Etruria, who made an offering to
Fortuna during the first or second century.[29]
Suetius, named in an inscription from the Roman fort at
Vindolanda in
Britannia, dating from AD 102.[30]
Suettia Iotape, dedicated a second-century tomb at Puteoli to her parents, Minucius Prosdoca and Minucia Euterpe.[31]
Quintus Suettius Primigenius, along with Quintus Suettius Valens, one of the priests of Apollo at
Philippi in
Macedonia, during the second century.[32]
Suettia Psyche, dedicated a second-century tomb at Rome to her husband, Lucius Lucretius Martialis, aged fifty.[33]
Quintus Suettius Valens, along with Quintus Suettius Primigenius, one of the priests of Apollo at Philippi, during the second century.[32]
Suettia L. f. Victoria, buried in a second-century tomb at Puteoli, aged twenty-two years, three months, with a monument from her son, Marcianus, and mother, Tryphenia.[34]
Undated Suettii
Suettia, the wife of Antigonus, with whom she dedicated a tomb at Rome to their patron, Servius Suettius Demetrius, and the freedman Hermaiscus.[35]
Suettius, named in an inscription from Aquinum.[36]
Servius Suettius Ser. l. Demetrius, a freedman buried at Rome, along with the freedman Hermaiscus, in a tomb dedicated by his
clients, Antigonus and Suettia.[35]
Sextus Suettius Sex. l. Felix, a freedman named in a sepulchral inscription from Rome.[40]
Suettius L[...]rax, a freedman, together with his wife, Cornelia Procla, dedicated a tomb at Rome to his patron, Sextus Suettius Romanus.[41]
Gaius Suettius Magnus, made an offering at
Berytus in
Syria.[42]
Suettia C. l. Prima, a freedwoman, mentioned in an inscription from Rome, along with the freedman Decimus Junius Philodamus.[43]
Suettia L. f. Procula, buried at Castellum Fabatianum in
Numidia, aged sixty.[44]