The gens Visellia was a family at ancient Rome during the late Republic and early Empire. Two members of this gens achieved the consulship during the first century.[1]

Praenomina

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The only praenomina associated with the Visellii appearing in history are Gaius and Lucius. Marcus, Publius, Quintus, and Titus appear in inscriptions.

Branches and cognomina

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The surnames associated with the Visellii are Varro and Aculeo. The former was a hereditary cognomen of the family, while the latter appears to have been a personal surname. Varro originally designated a fool, or one given to foolishness, while Aculeo seems to be derived from the adjective aculeus, meaning "sharp, pointy, prickly," or "thorny," presumably a commentary on the acuteness of its bearer's mind, bestowed in contradiction to the family's hereditary surname.[2][3]

Members

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, p. 1228 ("Visellius Varro").
  2. ^ Chase, pp. 110, 111 ("Varro"), 112, 113 ("Aculeo").
  3. ^ Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. I, p. 18 ("Gaius Aculeo").
  4. ^ Cicero, De Oratore, i. 43, ii. 1, 65, Brutus, 76.
  5. ^ Cicero, Brutus, 76, In Verrem, i. 28, Epistulae ad Atticum, iii. 23.
  6. ^ Tacitus, Annales, iii. 41.
  7. ^ Fasti Capitolini, AE 1927, 101; 1940, 59, 60.
  8. ^ Fasti Antiates, CIL X, 6638, 6639.
  9. ^ Tacitus, Annales, iv. 17, 19.
  10. ^ Fasti Ostienses, CIL XIV, 244, 245, 4531–4546, 5354, 5355.

Bibliography

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