Marcius Censorinus

Denarius minted at Rome in 82 BC by L. Marcius Censorinus, with the head of Apollo and the figure of Marsyas the satyr (CNG)

Marcius Censorinus was a name used by a branch of the plebeian gens Marcia of ancient Rome. The cognomen Censorinus was acquired through Gaius Marcius Rutilus, the first plebeian censor, whose son used it. The gens Marcia claimed descent from both Ancus Marcius, a king of Rome, and symbolically from Marsyas the satyr, who was associated with free speech and political liberty; see further discussion at Prophecy and free speech at Rome. The Marcii Censorini were consistent populares, supporting Marius, Cinna, Julius Caesar, and Antonius.

Members

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Denarius issued by the Gaius Censorinus who was moneyer in 88 BC, depicting Numa Pompilius and the gens ancestor Ancus Marcius on the obverse, with a desultor performing on two horses on the reverse

References

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Unless otherwise noted, dates, offices and citations of ancient sources are from T.R.S. Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic (American Philological Association, 1951, 1986), vol. 1; vol. 2 (1952); vol. 3 (1986); abbreviated MRR.

  1. ^ Appian, Bellum Civile 1.71.
  2. ^ Robin Seager, "Sulla," in The Cambridge Ancient History (Cambridge University Press, 1994), vol. 9, pp. 178 online and 193; Patrick McGushin, Sallust: The Histories (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1992), vol. 1, p. 101 online.
  3. ^ The praenomen is indicated by the coin, but not the gentilicum, which is given for the Censorinus who was an officer and is considered the same man.
  4. ^ Claude Eilers, Roman Patrons of Greek Cities (Oxford University Press, 2002), p. 236 online.
  5. ^ Josephus, Antiquitates Judaicae 16.165; Velleius Paterculus 2.101; Ronald Syme, "C. Marcius Censorinus in the East," in Anatolica (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995), pp. 302–307, limited preview online.