A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

plebeian. The ancient form of the name was Poblilius, which we find in the Capitoline Fasti. In many manuscripts and editions of the ancient writers we find the name of Publilius corrupted into Publius; and Glandorp, in his Onomasticon, has fallen into the mistake of giving most of the Publilii under the head of Publii (pp. 727, 728). The Publilii were first brought into notice as early as B. C. 472, by the celebrated tribune Volero Publilius, and they subsequently obtained the highest dignities of the state. The only family of this gens that bore a separate cognomen was that of PHILO; and it was one of this family, Q. Publilius Philo, who obtained the consulship in B. C. 339. The greatness of the gens became extinct with this Philo; and after his death we do not read of any persons of the name who attained to importance in the state. Volscus was an agnomen of the Philones. [PHILO, No. 1.]