A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

or VERGI'NIA GENS, patrician and plebeian. Verginius is usually found in MSS. and inscriptions, but modern editors generally adopt the other orthography, Virginius. The patrician branch of the gens was of great antiquity, and frequently filled the highest honours of the state during the early years of the republic. They all bore the cognomen of TRICOSTUS, but were divided into various families with the surnames of

Caeliomontanus, Esquilinus, and Rutilus respectively. The first of them who obtained the consulship was T. Virginius Tricostus Caeliomontanus in B. C. 496. The plebeian Virginii are also mentioned at an early period among the tribunes, but none of them had any cognomen. Under the empire we find Virginii with other surnames, a list of which is given below.