I can imagine that there are probably not a lot of individuals who are going to add a copy of T.J. Cornell 's The Fragments of the Roman Historians (TFRH) to their library. For those interested in the history of the Roman Republic is an essential resource. Published by Oxford University Press in 2013 it also comes with a steep price. A 30% OUP coupon enticed me to order a copy and it will get much use - starting with this set of notes.
The denarius that we focus on today is interesting for many reasons: it is in beautiful condition, with lovely toning, it was issued in the year 138 BC, the year the Lucius Cornelius Sulla was born, and it was issued by a prolific historian from the 2nd century BC.
It came with an old yellowed holder that it had clearly been stapled into for decades.
Gnaeus Gellius, Historian
The 'testimonia", in Volume 2, record three people with the name Gnaeus Gellius before the triumvir monetalis (moneyer of 138 BC). If there is a link between them "the most plausible hypothesis would be that the historian is identical with the monetalis and that the Gellius in the speech of Cato was his father" (TFRH pp. 252-253).
Gnaeus Gellius, the historian from the 2nd Century BC, should not be confused with Aulus Cornelius Gellius who wrote in the 2nd century AD.
Aulus mentions his earlier relative in Attic Nights 8.14:
"A highly entertaining discussion of the philosopher Favorinus with a tiresome person who held forth on the double meaning of certain words; also some unusual expressions from the poet Naevius and from Gnaeus Gellius; and further, some investigations of the derivation of words by Publius Nigidius."and do many others including Cicero in De Divinatione 1.55:
"All the historians have told this story, people like Fanius, Gellius, and most recently Coelius, when in the Latin Wars, the greatest votive games were being held for the first time, the state was suddenly called to arms, and so, because the games had been interrupted, repeat ceremonies were ordained."only fragments remain of the works of Gnaeus Gellius, who appears to have written as many as 97 books. He wrote between some time before 146BC until sometime before 110 BC.
It is possible that the Gellii were of Samnite origins: the name attested as a Samnite name in the context of the First and Second Samnite Wars in Livy 9.44.13;
"Twenty-six standards were captured, the captain-general of the Samnites, Statius Gellius, and a large number of men were made prisoners, and both camps were taken."and Livy 10.18-19:
"The chief organizer was Gellius Egnatius, a Samnite."and Diodorus Siculus:
The consuls at once took the city of Bola, but Gellius Gaius, the leader of the Samnites, appeared with six thousand soldiers. A hard fought battle took place in which Gellius himself was made prisoner, and of the other Samnites most were cut down but some were captured alive.I have not yet figured out why Michael Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage (RRC), would have dismissed the Samnite origin of the Gellii as "an unsubstantiated belief".
Gellius, Moneyer 138 BCE
Roman Republic, Cn. Gellius, 138 BCE, AR denarius (19.6mm, 3.99g, 9h), Rome
Obv: Head of Roma to right, wearing winged helmet, pendant earring and pearl necklace; behind, X (mark of value); all within laurel wreath.
Rev: CN•GEL / ROMA, helmeted warrior in quadriga (Mars?) to right, grasping captive with his right hand and holding shield in his left.
Ref: Babelon (Gellia) 1. Crawford 232/1. RBW 962. Sydenham 434.
Crawford calls the reverse figure uncertain (possibly Mars) with a captive who is not Nerio as proposed by some " on a confusion" according to Crawford (RRC). This attribution is still found in auction listings today.
The Birth of Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla was born in 138 BCE into a patrician family in Rome. Despite his noble lineage, the Sullas were a relatively impoverished branch of the prestigious Cornelii family. His early life was not marked by wealth or influence, which distinguished him from many of his peers in the Roman elite. His modest background likely contributed to Sulla's ambition and determination to rise to power.
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