DECI0685 P. Decius (17) P. f. P. n. Mus

Life Dates

  • 279, death - violent (Broughton MRR I) Expand

    Devotio, suicide? likely not performed.

Relationships

son of
P. Decius (16) P. f. Q. n. Mus (cos. 312) (RE)

Career

  • Consul 279 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Degrassi's recent restudy of fragment XIX of Fast. Cap. has revealed that the document contained no notice of Decius' death or devotion (40f., 113f.; and Epigraphica 1 [1939] 21-25). He also points out that the devotion of a third Decius remains unmentioned in Cic. Sest. 48 and Plin. NH 28.12. For his refutation of the views of Beloch and others, who derive the tale of the devotion of the father and the grandfather from this incident, see the references cited above. (Broughton MRR I)
    • Fast. Cap. ([- - -] f. [Ser. n. S]averrio; P. Deciu[s] P. f. P. n. [- -]); Dion. Hal. 20.1; Eutrop. 2.13; Chr. 354 (Saberno et Pirrico); Fast. Hyd. (Caverione et Murone), so also Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod. (P. Ulpicius et P. Decius); Degrassi 40f., 113, 430f. Pyrrhus won a costly and indecisive victory over the combined consular armies (Dion. Hal. 20.1-3; Eutrop. 2.13; cf. Liv. Per. 13; Frontin. Str. 2.3.31; Plut. Pyrr. 21.5-10, misdated; Flor. 1.13.9-11; Iustin. 18.1.11; Oros. 4.1.19-22). According to Cicero (Fin. 2.61; Tusc. 1.89), Decius died on the field, while according to Dio (fr. 40.43) and Zonaras (8.5), his intention to devote himself was frustrated by Pyrrhus. See 265, Consul Suffectus. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Consul Suffectus? 265 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • In view of a tradition that P. Decius Mus did not die at Asculum (see 279 Consuls), Beloch (RG 440f., 459) and Münzer (RE) admit the possibility that this man may be he, though there may well have been other members of the family. Degrassi (115) however reports that there is no space in Fast. Cap. for mention of a Consul Suffectus. (Broughton MRR I)
    • According to Auct. Vir. Ill. 36.2, a Decius Mus was sent to Volsinii to crush the revolt of the serfs. (Broughton MRR I)