Lucius Siccius or Sicinius Dentatus (died c. 450 BC) is a supposed Roman soldier, primus pilus, and tribune, famed for his martial bravery. He was cast as a champion of the plebeians in their struggle with the patricians. His cognomen Dentatus means "born with teeth".[citation needed] His exploits are likely fictitious.[1]
Engraving by Ludwig Gottlieb Portman depicting a Lucius Siccius Dentatus' last stand against soldiers ordered to murder him.
Dionysius of Halicarnassus gives him the crucial role in a battle between the consulTitus Romilius Rocus Vaticanus of 455 BC and the Aequi. Sent on a suicide mission against the enemy camp, instead he captured it while the main force was inconclusively fighting the enemy; Siccius' achievement panicked the Aequians and sent them fleeing from the field, and achieved victory for the Romans.[2] The following year (454 BC), after Romilius' term as consul ended, Dionysius reports that Siccius was elected as one of the tribunes of the plebs, he secured Romilius' conviction but mended relations when Romilius proposed a commission to travel to Greece and study their laws.[3]
He was supposedly murdered for his opposition to the Second Decemvirate, which itself may be fictitious.[4][5]
According to various Roman antiquarian sources,[6] likely originating largely from Varro, Siccius participated in many military campaigns. He engaged in a variety of military exploits, received many wounds, and was decorated with many honours. Aulus Gellius called him the "Roman Achilles".[7] SP Oakley, a classicist, wrote in the Classical Quarterly that these exploits are "exaggerated beyond credibility".[8]
Those antiquarian sources report that Siccius was eight times champion in single combat, with forty five scars on the front of his body and none on the rear. He is reported to have been awarded no less than eighteen hastae purae, twenty-five phalerae, 83 torques, more than 160 armillae, and twenty six coronae, of which fourteen were coronae civicae awarded for saving the life of a Roman citizen, eight coronae aureae, three coronae murales, and one corona obsidionalis or corona graminea, the highest honour for valour, awarded for the deliverer of a besieged army.[9][10]
^Gaius Julius Solinus (2011). Polyhistor. Translated by Apps, Arwen Elizabeth. Macquarie University (PhD Dissertation). 102-03.
Sources
Broughton, Thomas Robert Shannon (1951). The magistrates of the Roman republic. Vol. 1. New York: American Philological Association.
Drummond, Andrew (2012). "Siccius or Sicinius Dentatus, Lucius". In Hornblower, Simon; et al. (eds.). The Oxford classical dictionary (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.5906. ISBN978-0-19-954556-8. OCLC 959667246.
Oakley, SP (1985). "Single combat in the Roman republic". Classical Quarterly. 35 (2): 392–410. ISSN 0009-8388.
Watson, George Ronald (1985). The Roman soldier. London: Thames and Hudson. p. 116. ISBN0-500-27376-6. OCLC 42261728.
External linksedit
Media related to Lucius Siccius Dentatus at Wikimedia Commons
April 17, 2024
lucius, siccius, dentatus, lucius, siccius, sicinius, dentatus, died, supposed, roman, soldier, primus, pilus, tribune, famed, martial, bravery, cast, champion, plebeians, their, struggle, with, patricians, cognomen, dentatus, means, born, with, teeth, citatio. Lucius Siccius or Sicinius Dentatus died c 450 BC is a supposed Roman soldier primus pilus and tribune famed for his martial bravery He was cast as a champion of the plebeians in their struggle with the patricians His cognomen Dentatus means born with teeth citation needed His exploits are likely fictitious 1 Engraving by Ludwig Gottlieb Portman depicting a Lucius Siccius Dentatus last stand against soldiers ordered to murder him Dionysius of Halicarnassus gives him the crucial role in a battle between the consul Titus Romilius Rocus Vaticanus of 455 BC and the Aequi Sent on a suicide mission against the enemy camp instead he captured it while the main force was inconclusively fighting the enemy Siccius achievement panicked the Aequians and sent them fleeing from the field and achieved victory for the Romans 2 The following year 454 BC after Romilius term as consul ended Dionysius reports that Siccius was elected as one of the tribunes of the plebs he secured Romilius conviction but mended relations when Romilius proposed a commission to travel to Greece and study their laws 3 He was supposedly murdered for his opposition to the Second Decemvirate which itself may be fictitious 4 5 Contents 1 Honours 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHonours editAccording to various Roman antiquarian sources 6 likely originating largely from Varro Siccius participated in many military campaigns He engaged in a variety of military exploits received many wounds and was decorated with many honours Aulus Gellius called him the Roman Achilles 7 SP Oakley a classicist wrote in the Classical Quarterly that these exploits are exaggerated beyond credibility 8 Those antiquarian sources report that Siccius was eight times champion in single combat with forty five scars on the front of his body and none on the rear He is reported to have been awarded no less than eighteen hastae purae twenty five phalerae 83 torques more than 160 armillae and twenty six coronae of which fourteen were coronae civicae awarded for saving the life of a Roman citizen eight coronae aureae three coronae murales and one corona obsidionalis or corona graminea the highest honour for valour awarded for the deliverer of a besieged army 9 10 See also editSiccia gens Sicinia gensReferences editCitations Oakley 1985 p 409 It would be unwise to believe that any of this detail about the legendary Siccius was literally true Dionysius of Halicarnassus Roman Antiquities 10 36 49 Broughton 1951 p 43 Forsythe Gary 2005 A critical history of early Rome Berkeley University of California Press pp 223 25 ISBN 978 0 520 94029 1 OCLC 70728478 Forsythe Gary 1997 Review of Beginnings of Rome Bryn Mawr Classical Review ISSN 1055 7660 Oakley 1985 p 409 citing Dion Hal Ant Rom 10 36 3 37 5 Val Max 3 2 24 Plin HN 7 101 3 Gell NA 2 11 1 4 Drummond 2012 citing Gell NA 2 11 1ff Oakley 1985 p 409 Pliny the Elder Naturalis historia XXII v Gaius Julius Solinus 2011 Polyhistor Translated by Apps Arwen Elizabeth Macquarie University PhD Dissertation 102 03 SourcesBroughton Thomas Robert Shannon 1951 The magistrates of the Roman republic Vol 1 New York American Philological Association Drummond Andrew 2012 Siccius or Sicinius Dentatus Lucius In Hornblower Simon et al eds The Oxford classical dictionary 4th ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 acrefore 9780199381135 013 5906 ISBN 978 0 19 954556 8 OCLC 959667246 Oakley SP 1985 Single combat in the Roman republic Classical Quarterly 35 2 392 410 ISSN 0009 8388 Watson George Ronald 1985 The Roman soldier London Thames and Hudson p 116 ISBN 0 500 27376 6 OCLC 42261728 External links edit nbsp Media related to Lucius Siccius Dentatus at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lucius Siccius Dentatus amp oldid 1179588019, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
