9

Is Numidius an Ancient Roman name (probably a nomen gentilis) or is it spurious and caused by corruption of other names?

What I have found so far:

  • The name Ummidius (that is clearly and unmistakably attested) can be corrupted to Numidius
  • There also is a name Numisius that is easily mistyped (on a modern keyboard) as Numidius
  • There is a cognomen Numidicus (for victories against the Numidians).
3
  • 1
    Where have you seen Numidius? What makes you ask this? The question is interesting, I'd just like to know where it comes from.
    – Joonas Ilmavirta
    Feb 5, 2017 at 20:40
  • @JoonasIlmavirta I found the name in my memory and put it into some search engines, giving results like a redirect to Ummidius on the English wikipedia. Feb 5, 2017 at 20:41
  • 1
    It sounds remotely familiar to me, too, but I can't remember where I would have seen it. Idle curiosity is always sufficient motivation for a question; I merely wondered if there was more behind this one.
    – Joonas Ilmavirta
    Feb 5, 2017 at 21:56

2 Answers 2

7

There are various epigraphical references of Numidius as a nomen:

CIL VIII 23074 (Ain Batria): Aurelius Numidius P[3]nsi[3]

CIL X 3824 (Capua): Cn(aeum) Numidium / Astragalum

CIL XIV 3627 (Tivoli): C(aius) Numidius Qua/dratus

ILCV 297 (Santa Maria Capua Vetere): Murrius / Numidius

PanDeser 64 (Berenice): C(aius) Numidius Eros

In CIL VIII 5301 (Calama) is used as a praenomen (Numidius Marius), while ILAlg I 2071 (Madauros) records it as a cognomen of Q(uintus) Domitius Numidius.

The most famous person to which has been attributed the cognomen Numidicus was Q. Metellus Numidicus (cfr. e.g. Cic. Brut. 135; Vell. 2,9,1; Val. Max. 3,8,4; Gell. 15,14,1), who fought against Jugurtha in Numidia from 109 a.C. (see also CIL VI 40942 [Rome] Q(uintus) Caec[ilius L(uci) f(ilius) Metellus] / [Numidicus]).

Other epigraphical references of that cognomen are:

CIL VIII 15667 (Kaussat): P(ublius) Larci/us Numidicus

CIL VIII 16104 (El Kef): T(itus) Largius / Numidicus

CIL VIII 25660 (Chemtou): L(ucius) Iulius / Numidicus

IScM V 00270 (Isaccea): Mar]cianu[s] / [3] Cassius Numidicus

RMD IV 223 (?): Ti(berius) Claudius Numidicus

5

[Edited because I didn't read the full opening post at first.]

There were people named Numidius, but Numidicus as an agnomen (not cognomen) was attached to a very famous Roman politician, so I would bet that you were actually thinking of him.

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.