Roman names are complex things. They have a forename, next the name of their clan they descended from, then the family name, and finally additional surname name that was optional and uncommon to distinguish them from someone else in their family who had already had that name.
Example - Publeus Cornelius Scipio Africanus - His given name was Publeus, his ancestors were part of the Cornelii clan and the Scipio family. Then Africanus helped separate him from others in his famliy who shared the same name.
Once there was someone named Lucius Junius Brutus (depicted below) (not to be confused with Marcus Junius Brutus who was Caesar’s murderer and son (?)). He got his name "Brutus" from being stupid, but according to legend this was just an act to stay alive. If he posed a threat, his uncle, Tarquinius Superbus, the last Etruscan king, who Brutus would overthrow, would surely have him killed. He pretended to be retarded so as not to be seen as plausible hazard to the monarchy. In reality, he was quite the opposite, considering his ploy.
Lucius Junius Brutus is traditionally celebrated as founder of the Roman Republic when he expelled his uncle. Although he is commonly thought of as the good-guy, he was often considered heartless and obsessive in his passion to protect his new Republic. He even killed his own sons when he thought they might try to revive the kingship! On the other side of things though, he was just doing what he thought was best for the People. The entire point of the Roman's sophisticated government was to make sure one man did gain total power. One of the main reasons they flourished so was because of this and maintaining a just civil system was of the utmost importance.
As I understand it, Brutus must’ve started the family named “Brutus”, because otherwise everyone before him would’ve been called stupid too, and that doesn’t make any sense at all. The name wouldn’t have any specific meaning to separate him from the others then. An alternative explanation is that perhaps they hadn’t established the concept of the family name at this point, and Brutus was his additional surname.
Oh, and I found a link from the past to today in the origins of the word "fascist". The honor guard that protected Senators carried bundles of wood called "fasces" that represented power. When the fascists took over in Italy they adopted the name as a symbol of their strength. That was just for your educational enjoyment and further proof that history matters!
1 comment:
I totally chose other for the guys names because my favorite is still Scorpinious. After all, i invented it.
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