Jump to content
UNRV Ancient Roman Empire Forums
Hecto

Question concerning names

Recommended Posts

Here is my question, why is it that in some writings (IE: Cicero's letter "M. Tullius Cicero, son of Marcus, greets Cn. Pompeius, son of Cneius, Imperator.") a "Cn." appears which, from the way I understand nomenclature, would stand for "Cneius" but in recent writings, it is pictured as "Gnaeus" ?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

According to Plutarch (de quaest. Rom. 54), a freedman named Sp. Carvilius created the distinction between C anf G in the 3rd century BCE.

 

Before that, they were effectively the same letter.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Map of the Roman Empire

×