A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

plebeian. The name of Marius was not of unfrequent occurrence in the towns of Italy: thus, we find as early as the second Punic war a Marius Blosius and a Marius Alfius at Capua (Liv. 23.7, 35), and a Marius at Praeneste (Sil. Ital. 9.401). But no Roman of this name is mentioned till the celebrated C. Marius, the conqueror of the Cimbri and Teutones, who may be regarded as the founder of the gens. It was never divided into any families, though in course of time, more especially under the emperors, several of the Marii assumed surnames, of which an alphabetical list is given below. [MARIUS.] On coins we find the cognomens Capito and Trogus, but who they were is quite uncertain. [CAPITO; TROGUS.]