Рим и Римский мир

The article is devoted to the career paths of the centurions who achieved the high administrative positions in the Roman Empire. It focuses mostly on the appointments of these officers to the positions of praefectus fabrum and provincial procurators. The political and military context of such appointments, the social portrait of the centurions who received them, and the social prospects for their descendants are researched.

The article discusses the origins of the cognomen Pompeius Magnus, “the Great”. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a reference to the image of Alexander the Great. No ancient author speaks about this, and all arguments are constructions of modern researchers. Rather, this name expressed the sincere admiration of the soldiers for the achievements of their young commander. However, at the same time, the nickname was picked up by flatterers from Pompey's retinue, who skillfully played on his excessive ambition, which from his youth was Pompey’s weak side.

The article examines some thorny issues related to the biography of Lucius Equitius, a political ally of Lucius Appuleius Saturninus and a plebeian tribune-designate for 99 BC, who claimed to be a son of Tiberius Gracchus. The authors suggest that Equitius, whom ancient sources describe as a man of humble origin, came from the local aristocracy of the city of Firmum, a Latin colony in Picenum (i.e., he was a so-called domi nobilis).

The article examines the silver coinage of Allifae and Fistelia in the 4^th century BC, issued in two series: early didrachms and late obols with fractional denominations. A comparative-typological analysis with issues from nearby Campanian cities is conducted to determine whether a mint existed in either settlement. It is concluded that the early didrachms of the early 4^th century BC were minted in Neapolis for the recruitment of mercenaries from Allifae and Fistelia.

The etymology of pontifex from pons facere indicates a connection with the chthonic world. The attitude of pontifex maximus to the cults of the earth is manifested in the care of funeral rites, participation in the ritual of devotio, the cult of Vesta, Dis Pater, Saturn and Vulcan.

The article examines the activities of Titus Labienus, Caesar’s legate in Gaul and a prominent commander in Pompey’s army during the Civil War. His biography is known with large lacunas, as are his political leanings. In Caesar’s Gallic campaigns Labienus served as a legatus pro praetore and proved himself to be a talented military commander. But the fact that he had been praetor before this seems doubtful. With the outbreak of the civil war Labienus defected to Pompey. The motive seems to have been his unsatisfied ambition.

The paper analyzes the role of Caius Antonius in the events of 63 BC. The author comes to the following conclusions: despite the agreement with Cicero, which assumed the transfer the rich province of Macedonia to him after the consulship, Antonius considered other ways to get out of debts. Intrigued by Catiline’s promises and being under the influence of his relative Lentulus Sura, he could have taken part in the meetings of the Catilinarii, but retreated from them as soon as he saw that the matter was becoming futile.

The paper examines the relationship between the consul Lucius Cornelius Sulla and the Roman plebs in 88 B.C. The first part of the paper considers the role of the popular assemblies in the political struggle around the bills of the plebeian tribune Publius Sulpicius. The authors take the view that the violent clashes between supporters and opponents of Sulpicius’ proposals were inspired by Sulla and his consular colleague Quintus Pompeius Rufus who thereby sought to disrupt the vote in the comitia.

The article is devoted to some problems of Publius Furius’ political biography. The author accepts the opinion that Furius had been a plebeian tribune in 100 BC, not 99 BC. Furius offered the publicatio bonorum of L. Appuleius Saturninus, but we do not have any information that the proposal on the confiscation was implemented in spite of popular historiographical view. The author believes that there were two trials of Furius and not one as some historians presume.

The article examines the relations between Rome and the Kingdom of Cappadocia on the eve of the First Mithridatic War. Although allied relations between them had existed for several decades, Rome showed little interest in events in this remote region. Only the rise of Pontus and the desire of Mithridates Eupator to strengthen his influence here prompted the Senate to take more active action.