A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

or PERPENNA Περπέννας, the name of a Roman gens. We may infer from the termination of the word, that the Perpernae were of Etruscan origin, like the CAECINAE and SPURINNAE. The Perpernae are first mentioned in the latter half of the second century B. C., and the first member of the gens, who obtained the consulship, was M. Perperna in B. C. 130. There is considerable doubt as to the orthography of the name, since both Perperna and Perpenna occur in the best manuscripts ; but as we find Perperna in the Fasti Capitolini, this appears to be the preferable form. (Comp. Graevius and Garaton. ad Cie. pro Rosc. Com. 1; Duker, ad Flor. 2.20; Drakenborch, ad Liv. 44.27.) There are no coins now extant to determine the question of the orthography, although in the time of Fronto there were coins bearing this name. (Fronto, p. 249, ed. Rom.)