A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

plebeian (Dionys. A. R. 10.58), first occurs at the time of the decemvirate. The name is frequently confounded with that of Petillis or Petilius [PETILLIA GENS.] The only family-name in this gens is that of Line, which is usually found with the agnomen Visolus. Livy (7.11), it is true, says that C. Poetelius Balbus was consul B. C. 360 with M. Fabius Ambustus; but as the Capitoline Fasti make C. Poetelius Libo the colleague'of Fabius, and Balbus does not occur elsewhere as a cognomen of the Poetelii, the cognlomen in Livy is probably either an error or a corruption. All the other Poetelii bear the surname Libo with the exception of P. Poetelius, who was sent as one of the three ambassadors to Syphax in B. C. 210. (Liv. 27.4.)