Aulus Pompeius
Encyclopedia
Aulus Pompeius was the name of two Romans from the gen
s Pompeius
, who were of plebs
status. They lived during the Roman Republic
.
tribune
of the plebs in 132 BC, who was an opponent to politician Tiberius Gracchus
and was the younger brother to the above named. His mother is unknown. Aulus was named after his paternal great, grandfather of the same name.
Very little is known on this Aulus Pompeius. He was elected as tribune
of the plebs in 102 BC. His wife's name is not known; they had a son Quintus Pompeius
Bithynicus.
According to Greek Historian Diodorus Siculus
, Aulus Pompeius died in 102 BC, apparently as a result of a curse placed upon him by Battaces, a Phrygian
Priest. Diodorus recounts that Battaces was visiting Rome as an ambassador
from the temple of "The Great Mother of the Gods
" in Pessinus
. Aulus Pompeius, as Tribune, forbade Battaces to wear a golden crown which formed part of his priestly regalia. This provoked a public argument between Battaces & Pompeius on the Forum rostra, during which Battaces cursed Pompeius for insulting The Great Goddess. Pompeius was "immediately struck with a burning fever, after which he lost his voice and was seized with quinsy, dying on the third day." The superstitious people of Rome viewed his death as the result of Battace's curse and thereafter allowed Battaces to wear his full regalia and treated him with respect and honour.
’s friend Quintus Pompeius
Bithynicus by an unnamed woman.
When dictator Gaius Julius Caesar
was murdered in March 44 BC, he was serving as a praetor
in Sicily
. Out of fear of the situation in Rome
, Pompeius wrote a letter to Cicero, requesting for his protection, which Cicero promised in his reply.
Pompeius was against the political rebel Sextus Pompeius
, gaining control of Messina, however afterwards Pompeius allowed Sextus to control Messina, on the condition that Pompeius would have equal authority of government with Sextus. Afterwards, Sextus ordered Pompeius to be put to death.
Gen
Gen may refer to:* Gen , 2006 Turkish horror film directed by Togan Gökbakar* Gen language, the language of Togo* Gen , a video game character from the Street Fighter series...
s Pompeius
Pompeius
Pompeius , sometimes anglicized as Pompey, is the nomen of the gens Pompeia, an important family of ancient Rome from the Italian region of Picenum, which lies between the Apennines and the Adriatic...
, who were of plebs
Plebs
The plebs was the general body of free land-owning Roman citizens in Ancient Rome. They were distinct from the higher order of the patricians. A member of the plebs was known as a plebeian...
status. They lived during the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
.
Brother to Quintus Pompeius Rufus, Consul 88 BC
Aulus Pompeius (flourished 2nd century BC) was the son Quintus PompeiusQuintus Pompeius
Quintus Pompeius was the name of various Romans from the gens Pompeius, who were of plebeian status. They lived during the Roman Republic and Roman Empire.-Consul of 141 BC:...
tribune
Tribune
Tribune was a title shared by elected officials in the Roman Republic. Tribunes had the power to convene the Plebeian Council and to act as its president, which also gave them the right to propose legislation before it. They were sacrosanct, in the sense that any assault on their person was...
of the plebs in 132 BC, who was an opponent to politician Tiberius Gracchus
Tiberius Gracchus
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus was a Roman Populares politician of the 2nd century BC and brother of Gaius Gracchus. As a plebeian tribune, his reforms of agrarian legislation caused political turmoil in the Republic. These reforms threatened the holdings of rich landowners in Italy...
and was the younger brother to the above named. His mother is unknown. Aulus was named after his paternal great, grandfather of the same name.
Very little is known on this Aulus Pompeius. He was elected as tribune
Tribune
Tribune was a title shared by elected officials in the Roman Republic. Tribunes had the power to convene the Plebeian Council and to act as its president, which also gave them the right to propose legislation before it. They were sacrosanct, in the sense that any assault on their person was...
of the plebs in 102 BC. His wife's name is not known; they had a son Quintus Pompeius
Quintus Pompeius
Quintus Pompeius was the name of various Romans from the gens Pompeius, who were of plebeian status. They lived during the Roman Republic and Roman Empire.-Consul of 141 BC:...
Bithynicus.
According to Greek Historian Diodorus Siculus
Diodorus Siculus
Diodorus Siculus was a Greek historian who flourished between 60 and 30 BC. According to Diodorus' own work, he was born at Agyrium in Sicily . With one exception, antiquity affords no further information about Diodorus' life and doings beyond what is to be found in his own work, Bibliotheca...
, Aulus Pompeius died in 102 BC, apparently as a result of a curse placed upon him by Battaces, a Phrygian
Phrygia
In antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. The Phrygians initially lived in the southern Balkans; according to Herodotus, under the name of Bryges , changing it to Phruges after their final migration to Anatolia, via the...
Priest. Diodorus recounts that Battaces was visiting Rome as an ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
from the temple of "The Great Mother of the Gods
Cybele
Cybele , was a Phrygian form of the Earth Mother or Great Mother. As with Greek Gaia , her Minoan equivalent Rhea and some aspects of Demeter, Cybele embodies the fertile Earth...
" in Pessinus
Pessinus
Pessinus was a city in Anatolia, the Asian part of Turkey on the upper course of the river Sakarya River , from which the mythological King Midas is said to have ruled a greater Phrygian realm...
. Aulus Pompeius, as Tribune, forbade Battaces to wear a golden crown which formed part of his priestly regalia. This provoked a public argument between Battaces & Pompeius on the Forum rostra, during which Battaces cursed Pompeius for insulting The Great Goddess. Pompeius was "immediately struck with a burning fever, after which he lost his voice and was seized with quinsy, dying on the third day." The superstitious people of Rome viewed his death as the result of Battace's curse and thereafter allowed Battaces to wear his full regalia and treated him with respect and honour.
Son of Quintus Pompeius Bithynicus
Aulus Pompeius Bithynicus (flourished 1st century BC) was the son to Senator CiceroCicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
’s friend Quintus Pompeius
Quintus Pompeius
Quintus Pompeius was the name of various Romans from the gens Pompeius, who were of plebeian status. They lived during the Roman Republic and Roman Empire.-Consul of 141 BC:...
Bithynicus by an unnamed woman.
When dictator Gaius Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
was murdered in March 44 BC, he was serving as a praetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. Out of fear of the situation in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Pompeius wrote a letter to Cicero, requesting for his protection, which Cicero promised in his reply.
Pompeius was against the political rebel Sextus Pompeius
Sextus Pompeius
Sextus Pompeius Magnus Pius, in English Sextus Pompey , was a Roman general from the late Republic . He was the last focus of opposition to the Second Triumvirate...
, gaining control of Messina, however afterwards Pompeius allowed Sextus to control Messina, on the condition that Pompeius would have equal authority of government with Sextus. Afterwards, Sextus ordered Pompeius to be put to death.
Sources for Articles
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0499.html
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2807.html
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2808.html
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2809.html