Numeria gens

As a nomen, Numerius is comparatively scarce relative to the praenomen Numerius, from which it is derived. Numerius was not a particularly common praenomen, and is widely believed to have been of Sabine or Oscan origin, although despite its scarcity it was widely diffused among the Roman plebeians, and even received limited use by a few patrician families. According to Varro, there was a goddess Numeria, to whom women prayed during childbirth. She was mentioned in the ancient prayers recited by the Pontifex Maximus, and Varro writes that the praenomen Numerius was given to children who were born quickly. As with other gentilicia that share a form with praenomina and cognomina, it is often difficult to determine whether persons named Numerius bore it as a praenomen, nomen, or cognomen. ==Praenomina==

The Numerii seem to have used a relatively restricted number of praenomina. From extant records and inscriptions, they used primarily Gaius, Marcus, and Publius. A few Numerii are known to have borne different praenomina, including Quintus, Lucius, and Gnaeus. All of these were very common throughout Roman history. ==Members==

• Numerius, a friend of Marius, who lent him a ship at Ostia, when the general fled Rome after being proscribed by Sulla in 88 BC. There is some uncertainty as to whether Numerius was his nomen, or his praenomen. • Numerius Numestius, a friend of Atticus, who recommended Numestius to Cicero. • Quintus Numerius Rufus, tribune of the plebs in 57 BC, opposed the recall of Cicero from exile. Cicero thought that Numerius, whom he derisively refers to as Gracchus, had been bribed by his enemies, and states that they considered murdering Numerius in order to place the orator's friends under suspicion. • Numerius Atticus, a senator of praetorian rank, following the death of Augustus, reported seeing the emperor ascending to the heavens. • Lucius Numerius Albanus, in AD 113. • Gaius Numerius Major, a decurion buried at Amisos in Pontus and Bithynia. • Gaius Numerius C. f. Major, son of the Decurion, who erected a monument in honour of his father. • Gaius Numerius C. l. Agathemerus, a freedman of Gaius Numerius and his wife, mentioned in an inscription from Rome. • Gnaeus Numerius Cn. f. Fronto, a cavalry veteran of the eighth legion, buried at Altinum in Venetia et Histria. • Gnaeus Numerius Cn. f. Felix, freedman of Gnaeus Numerius Fronto, also buried at Altinum. • Marcus Numerius Maximinus, the husband of Maximia Nigella, buried at Nemausus. • Publius Numerius Martialis Astigitanus, a native and municipal official of Astigi in Hispania Baetica, named in connection with a transaction for one hundred pounds of silver, and as a donor to the public works. • Publius Numerius Achilles Astigitanus, perhaps a freedman, buried at Astigi, aged ninety-eight. • Marcus Numerius Priscianus, named in a list of soldiers from the fifth cohort at Rome, dating to the beginning of the second century. • Quintus Numerius Q. f. Rufus, contributed to the building of a portico at Issa in Dalmatia. • Gaius Numerius Victor, mentioned in a funerary inscription from Lambaesis in Numidia. • Marcus Numerius, named in an inscription from Lambaesis. • Numerius Albanus, governor of Lusitania in AD 336. ==See also==