Publius Pasidienus Firmus
Publius Pasidienus Firmus was a
Aulus Licinius Nerva Silianus, replacing Marcus Julius Vestinus Atticus
whom Nero forced to commit suicide. Firmus is known entirely from inscriptions.
Pasidienus is a rare
gentilicium. Bernard Remy believes it is Etruscan in origin.[1] However, noting that the suffix -enus was typical of names from Picenum and the vicinity, other authorities believe that the Pasidieni were of Picentine or Umbrian descent.[2]
Based on a fragmentary inscription,military diploma dated to 18 June of the consulship of Nerva Silianus and Pasidienus Firmus decisively proved they were two different men.[1]
This strengthened the likely identification of Firmus with the identically named proconsular governor of
homo novus.[4]
It is clear that he is related to Lucius Pasidienus Firmus, suffect consul in 75. If the younger Firmus were his son, the unusually brief period between their consulates would help confirm the theory he came to the consulate late in life. However, it is equally possible the younger Firmus could be a nephew or a cousin.
References
- ^ a b c Bernard Remy, Les carrières sénatoriales dans les provinces romaines d'Anatolie au Haut-Empire (31 av. J.-C. - 284 ap. J.-C.) (Pont-Bithynie, Galatie, Cappadoce, Lycie-Pamphylie et Cilicie) (Istanbul: Institut Français d'Études Anatoliennes-Georges Dumézil, 1989), p. 27
- ^ George Davis Chase, "The Origin of Roman Praenomina", Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, 8 (1897), pp. 121f
- ^ AE 1946, 124
- ^ Remy, Les carrières sénatoriales, p. 28