The gens Pollia (Pōllia)[1] was a minor
plebeian family at
ancient Rome. The
gens must have been very old, as one of the original
Servian tribes was named after it, suggesting that the Pollii were important landowners during the
Roman monarchy. However, few Pollii are mentioned in history, and none of them attained any of the higher offices of the Roman state. A number of Pollii are known from inscriptions.
Origin
The
nomenPollius seems to be a patronymic surname derived from the old
praenomenPaullus, "little", which was little used in historical times, except in its feminine form, Paulla,[i] or as a
cognomen, particularly by the great
patrician house of the
Aemilii. An alternative derivation would be from the surname Pollio, originally referring to one who polished arms. Chase classifies Pollius among those gentilicia which either originated at Rome, or are not known to have come from anywhere else.[2]
Praenomina
The Pollii used a variety of praenomina, especially Publius, Gaius, Marcus, Gnaeus, and Lucius, all of which were very common throughout Roman history. Other names appear occasionally, including Quintus and Numerius, of which the latter was widespread, but uncommon.
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Pollia, named in an funerary inscription found at
Pombal, formerly part of
Lusitania.[3]
Pollius Hypatus, named in a funerary inscription from Rome, dating to the second century AD, or the latter part of the first.[21]
Quintus Pollius Ɔ. l. Kandaules, named in an inscription from Tarracina, dating to the later first century BC, or the earlier part of the first century AD.[7]
Gnaeus Pollius Protus, named in a funerary inscription from Rome.[16]
Marcus Pollius Pudens, named in a graffito from
Pompeii.[29]
Lucius Pollius Restitutus, buried at Rome, aged eleven years, two months, and thirty days, in a tomb dating to the second century AD, or the latter part of the first.[21]
Gaius Pollius Rogatus, buried at
Cuicul in Numidia, aged eighty.[30]
Publius Pollius Romanus, buried at Rome, aged five.[31]
Pollius Saturninus, buried at Ucubi in Numidia, aged eighty.[32]
Pollius Savinus, named in a funerary inscription from Turris Libisonis.[4]
Titus Pollius Severus, named in an inscription from
Teurnia in
Noricum.[33]
Marcus Pollius M. f. Silenus, one of the
Seviri Augustales, named in an inscription from Mediolanum.[15]
Publius Pollius S. f. Speratus, buried at Rome, aged twenty-one.[20]
Publius Pollius Spinther, named in an inscription from Rome.[35]
Pollius N. l. Stabilio, a freedman buried at Rome.[36]
Gaius Pollius Truentino Restitutus Picens, a soldier in the
praetorian guard, buried at Rome, aged thirty three, having served thirteen years.[37]
Pollia Urbana, wife of Publius Pollius Murranus, buried at Narbo.[24]
Pollius Victor, buried at
Thabraca in Africa Proconsularis, aged eight.[38]
Gnaeus Pollius Cn. l. Victor, a freedman named among the Seviri Augustales at
Puteoli in Campania, in AD 56.[39]
Naevius Pollius Priscus, named in a dedicatory inscription from Cumae.[28]
Titus Volusinus Pollius, son of Rufimus, named in an inscription from Vicus Haterianus in Africa Proconsularis.[40]
Publius Pollius Felix, a wealthy Roman from
Puteoli who was mentioned in the
Silvae by
Statius. Pollius Felix is said by Statius to have owned a massive villa in
Surrentum, which is now used as the Regina Giovanna bath. Pollius Felix is best known as a character in
Caroline Lawrence's novel series
The Roman Mysteries. It is said that he had a daughter named Polla who married a man named Julius Menecrates. He also had a wife named Polla.