Satellia gens


The gens Satellia was an obscure plebeian family of equestrian rank at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in ancient writers, but a number are known from inscriptions.

Origin

The nomen Satellius belongs to a class of gentilicia formed mainly from cognomina ending in the diminutive suffixes -illus and -ellus. There is no evidence of a surname Satellus, so the nomen is probably derived from satelles, an attendant, follower, or by extension, a bodyguard; the same word is the source of the English satellite.

Praenomina

The main praenomina of the Satellii were Gaius and Marcus, two of the most common names throughout all periods of Roman history. The family occasionally used other common praenomina, including Lucius, Publius, Quintus, and Titus.

Members