The gens Turpilia was a minor
plebeian family at
ancient Rome. Members of this
gens first came to prominence during the second century BC, with the dramatist Sextus Turpilius, and Titus Turpilius Silanus, one of the Roman commanders during the
Jugurthine War. The only member to attain the
consulship was Lucius Turpilius Dexter, in 81 BC.
Origin
The
nomenTurpilius belongs to a class of gentilicia typically formed from surnames ending in the diminutive suffix -ulus, using the gentile-forming suffix -ilius. Turpilius might be based on a diminutive of the
cognomenTurpio.[1]
Members
Sextus Turpilius, a Roman dramatist of the second century BC. Only the titles of some of his plays, and a few fragments of his work survive. He died at
Sinuessa in
Latium, at an advanced age, in 101 BC.[2][3]
Titus Turpilius Silanus, placed by
Quintus Caecilius Metellus in command of the Roman garrison at
Vaga in
Numidia in 109 BC, during the
Jugurthine War. With
Jugurtha's encouragement, the inhabitants massacred the Romans, although Silanus escaped to Metellus, who suspected him of complicity with the enemy. Silanus was tried and found guilty, then scourged to death, as he was not a Roman citizen. It later emerged that Silanus was innocent of the charges.[4][5][6]
Turpilia, made a will naming Publius Silius as her heir. In 44 BC, a controversy arose as to whether she had the capacity to make a will, for which reason Silius consulted
Cicero, who then wrote to Gaius Trebatius Testa, asking him to advocate on behalf of Silius.[7]
Turpilius, a skilled painter in
Venetia, whom
Pliny describes as having lived a better manner of life than was typical of painters of his era. He was the more remarkable for having painted left-handed. Although he had recently died, Pliny reports that some of his best work could be seen at
Verona.[8][9]
Lucius Turpilius Dexter,
consul suffectus for the months of November and December of AD 81.[10]
The gens Turpilia was a minor
plebeian family at
ancient Rome. Members of this
gens first came to prominence during the second century BC, with the dramatist Sextus Turpilius, and Titus Turpilius Silanus, one of the Roman commanders during the
Jugurthine War. The only member to attain the
consulship was Lucius Turpilius Dexter, in 81 BC.
Origin
The
nomenTurpilius belongs to a class of gentilicia typically formed from surnames ending in the diminutive suffix -ulus, using the gentile-forming suffix -ilius. Turpilius might be based on a diminutive of the
cognomenTurpio.[1]
Members
Sextus Turpilius, a Roman dramatist of the second century BC. Only the titles of some of his plays, and a few fragments of his work survive. He died at
Sinuessa in
Latium, at an advanced age, in 101 BC.[2][3]
Titus Turpilius Silanus, placed by
Quintus Caecilius Metellus in command of the Roman garrison at
Vaga in
Numidia in 109 BC, during the
Jugurthine War. With
Jugurtha's encouragement, the inhabitants massacred the Romans, although Silanus escaped to Metellus, who suspected him of complicity with the enemy. Silanus was tried and found guilty, then scourged to death, as he was not a Roman citizen. It later emerged that Silanus was innocent of the charges.[4][5][6]
Turpilia, made a will naming Publius Silius as her heir. In 44 BC, a controversy arose as to whether she had the capacity to make a will, for which reason Silius consulted
Cicero, who then wrote to Gaius Trebatius Testa, asking him to advocate on behalf of Silius.[7]
Turpilius, a skilled painter in
Venetia, whom
Pliny describes as having lived a better manner of life than was typical of painters of his era. He was the more remarkable for having painted left-handed. Although he had recently died, Pliny reports that some of his best work could be seen at
Verona.[8][9]
Lucius Turpilius Dexter,
consul suffectus for the months of November and December of AD 81.[10]