A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

plebeian. The word is always written on coins with one t ; but in manuscripts we find both Attius and Atius. This gens does not appear to have been of any great antiquity, and none of its members ever attained the consulship; but, since Augustus was connected with it on his mother's side [ATIA], the flattery of the poets derived its origin from Atys, the son of Alba, and father of Capys. (Verg. A. 5.568.) The cognomens of the Atii are BALBUS, LABIENUS, RUFUS, VARUS : for those who have no cognomens, see ATIUS. The only cognomens which occur on coins are Balbus and Labienus. (Eckhel, v. p. 145.)