Sentia gens


The gens Sentia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in history toward the end of the Republic. The first of the Sentii to obtain the consulship was Gaius Sentius Saturninus, in 19 BC.

Origin

The origin of the nomen Sentius is uncertain, but it might be derived from the Latin sentus, thorny. Chase classifies it among those gentilicia that either originated at Rome, or cannot be shown to have come from anywhere else. Syme prefers an Etruscan origin, noting that the name seems abundant at Clusium. However, the Sentii Saturnini of the late Republic were from Atina in southern Latium.

Praenomina

The main praenomina used by the Sentii were Gaius, Gnaeus, and Lucius, all of which were very common throughout Roman history. Other names attested from inscriptions include Quintus and Sextus.

Branches and cognomina

The most important family of the Sentii bore the cognomen Saturninus, which occurs on coins. Other coins of this gens include no surnames. One of the more noteworthy Sentii of imperial times bore the surname Augurinus, an occupational cognomen probably indicating that he or one of his ancestors was an augur.

Members

Sentii Saturnini