Please place your bulla on the front table

Please place your bulla on the front table.

Roman Names Page 18 in Binder

Men’s Names Roman men who were citizens NORMALLY had 3 names. Each part of the name had a “title”: Praenomen Nomen Cognomen

Praenomen • This was the first of the three names • There were only about 20 in use for ALL of the Roman men! • This was the name that members of your family or close friends would call you.

Praenomen • Some praenomens would correspond with numbers such as: – Quintus: “Fifth” – Sextus: “Sixth” – Decimus: “Tenth”

Nomen • This was the second of the three names • It designated the gens or “clan” that you belonged to • This was the name that people would use in a public setting • It also designated social class

Social Classes • There were two primary social classes in ancient Rome. They were: – Patricians (The upper class; wealthy citizens) – Plebians (The lower class; moderate to poor citizens)

Nomen • We get some modern day names from the nomen of Romans. Here are some examples: –Claudius • Claude (M. ) • Claudia (F. ) –Livius • Oliver (M. ) • Olivia (F. ) –Iulius • Julius; Jules (M. ) • Julia; Julie (F. )

Cognomen • This was the third of three names. • Often this was a second last name, and could often be witty or descriptive o Agricola: Farmer o Maximus: Very Big o Petrus: Rock

Agnomen • Sometimes a Roman would have a fourth name called an “Agnomen” • This acted as a second cognomen • It was also descriptive: May have been given after a certain achievement. • Gaius Iulius Caesar Octavianus – 8 th person to be adopted • Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus – Served in the military in Africa

• On occasion (but rarely) a person could have more than one agnomen. – Gaius Iulius Caesar Octavianus Augustus • Augustus: The honored one

Girl Names • Women had only two names: Nomen Cognomen

Nomen (Females) • First of two names • Dad’s nomen was put in the Feminine form. • Example: – If the girl’s father’s nomen was “Claudius”, she would be named “Claudia”

Cognomen (Females) • Second of two names • Husband’s nomen in the feminine form. • Example: – If Claudia got married to “Iulius” she would be named “Claudia Iulia”

Exceptions • What if there are two girls born to the same family? • Three girls would all share the same nomen, however their cognomens would differ. – Polla Prima – Polla Secunda – Polla Tertia