Oppia (gens)


The gens Oppia was an ancient Roman family, known from the first century of the Republic down to imperial times. The gens may originally have been patrician, as they supplied priestesses to the College of Vestals at a very early date, but all of the Oppii known to history were plebeians. None of them obtained the consulship until imperial times.

Origin

The Oppii were probably Sabines, one of the peoples who made up a significant portion of the early Roman populace. The nomen Oppius is classed by Chase among a number of gentilicia that were not Latin, but came from among the various neighboring regions, in this case that of the Sabines.

Praenomina

The earliest Oppii to appear in history used the praenomina Spurius, Marcus, and Gaius. To these, later generations added Lucius, Quintus, and Publius. All of these were quite common throughout Roman history, except for Spurius, which was reasonably common in the early Republic, but became quite distinctive by imperial times.

Branches and cognomina

The chief surnames of the Oppii were Capito, Cornicen or Cornicinus, and Salinator, of which Capito and Salinator occur on coins. Capito was a common cognomen derived from caput, the head, and was typically applied to someone with a large or prominent head. Cornicen, of which Cornicinus is a diminutive, is an occupational surname, referring to a horn-blower. Salinator, also derived from an occupation, referred to a salt merchant.

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