Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic

CAEC0751 L. Caecilius (72) L. f. C. n. Metellus

Life Dates

  • Before 300?, birth (Rüpke 2005)
  • 221, death (Broughton MRR I)

Relationships

son of
? L. Caecilius (92) Metellus Denter (cos. 284) (Zmeskal 2009)
father of
Q. Caecilius (81) L. f. L. n. Metellus (cos. 206) (Zmeskal 2009) Expand

Plin. n.h. VII 139f.

? M. Caecilius (76) Metellus (pr. 206) (Zmeskal 2009)
? L. Caecilius (73) Metellus (tr. pl. 213) (Zmeskal 2009)

Career

  • Consul 251 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • The name of the Consuls appear in Chr. 354 as Megello et Pacilo, in Fast. Hyd. as Metello et Papo, and in Chr. Pasc. as {Gr}, while Orosius gives Furius the cognomen Placidus, and Zonaras the nomen {Gr}. (Broughton MRR I)
    • Fast. Cap. (names entire); Polyb. 1.39.8; Plin. 7.139, on Metellus; Eutrop. 2.24; Oros. 4.9.14; Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.;Cassiod.; Zon. 8.14. See Degrassi 42f., 116, 436f. Both Consuls served in Sicily, but accomplished little before Furius' return encouraged the Carthaginians to attack Panormus. Thereupon Metellus, either late in 251 or early in 250, won a victory and captured over 100 elephants (Polyb. 1.39-40; Cic. Rep. 1.1; Diod. 23.21; Liv. Per. 19; Frontin. Str. 2.5.4; Flor. 1.18.27; Eutrop. 2.24; Jerome Chr. ad ann. 251, p. 132 Helm; Oros. 4.9.14-15; Zon. 8.14; cf. Grueber, CRRBM 1.182f.; Cesano, Stud. Num. 1.160f.). See 250, Promagistrates. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Proconsul 250 Sicilia (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Celebrated as Procos. a triumph De Poenis, which was particularly noted for the captured elephants (Act. Tr., Degrassi 76f., 549; Dion.{214} Hal. 2.66.4; Liv. Per. 19; Senec. Brev. Vit. 13.8; Plin. NH 7.139-140; 8.16; 18.17; Frontin. Str. 1.7.1; Flor. 1.18.27; Eutrop. 2.24; Oros. 4.9.15; Zon. 8.14; on the coins of C. Metellus celebrating this triumph, see Grueber, CRRBM 1.155ff. and 182ff.; 2.357; Cesano, Stud. Num. 1 [1942] 158-161). (Broughton MRR I)
    • Cos. 251, 247. Xvir agris dandis 232? In the laudatio pronounced by his son, Q. Metellus (81), membership on a land commission is included among his achievements (Pliny, NH 7.139- 140). J. H. Corbett suggests that the most probable occasion was the viritane assignment of Ager Gallicus under the law of Flaminius in 232 (MRR 1.225), even though there is no mention of the appointment of a commission under this law (CR 20,,1970, 7-8). Pontifex. In spite of Pliny's description of the pontifex who dedicated the temple of Ops Opifera as hesitant in speech (NH 11.174) and the consul of 251 as clear and faultless (NH 7.140; cf. Val. Max. 8.13.1; Cic. Sen. 30), M. G. Morgan rejects Metellus Delmaticus, Cos. 119, in favor of the Cos. of 251, pontifex and pontifex maximus, and victor over the Carthaginians at Panormus when proconsul in 250 (Phoenix 27, 1973, 35-41). By reconciling Polybius 2.39.14-15 and 2.41.2, he brings support. to the argument for dating that victory to his proconsulship early in 250 (CQ 22, 1972, 123-129; MRR 2.213). On the elephant coinage, see now Crawford, RRC 1.287, no. 262, 128 B.C., and below on nos. 93 and 91. (Broughton MRR III)
  • Triumphator 250 (Rich 2014) Expand
    • Triumph de Poeneis. MRR I.213-4, Itgenshorst no. 140, Rich no. 139. (Rich 2014)
  • Pontifex? 250 to 244 (Rüpke 2005)
  • Magister Equitum 249 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Fast. Cap. (name entire); Zon. 8.15; see Degrassi 42f., 116, 436f. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Consul 247 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Fast. Cap. (names entire); Plin. NH 7.139, on Metellus; Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; Zon. 8.16; see Degrassi 42f., 116, 436f. Metellus besieged Lilybaeum, and Fabius Drepanum; and both captured the island of Pelias (Zon. 8.16). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Pontifex 243 (Rüpke 2005)
  • Pontifex Maximus 243 to 221 (Rüpke 2005) Expand
    • On the acts of Metellus as Pont. Max., and notably the rescue of the Palladium from the burning temple of Vesta, see RE no. 72. Also augustin. CD 3.15. Pliny (NH 7.139-141) calls him Pontifex. (Broughton MRR I)
    • L. Caecilius Metellus succeeded Ti. Coruncanius. Liv. Per. 19; Val. Max. 8.13.2. See 242, Flamines. (Broughton MRR I)
    • L. Cornelius Lentulus Caudinus succeeded L. Caecilius Metellus. On Metellus, see Cic. Sen. 30; Val. Max. 8.13.2; Plin. NH 7.139. Lentulus is mentioned as Pont. Max. in 217 (Liv. 22.10.1). See 213. (Broughton MRR I)
    • Cos. 251, 247. Xvir agris dandis 232? In the laudatio pronounced by his son, Q. Metellus (81), membership on a land commission is included among his achievements (Pliny, NH 7.139- 140). J. H. Corbett suggests that the most probable occasion was the viritane assignment of Ager Gallicus under the law of Flaminius in 232 (MRR 1.225), even though there is no mention of the appointment of a commission under this law (CR 20,,1970, 7-8). Pontifex. In spite of Pliny's description of the pontifex who dedicated the temple of Ops Opifera as hesitant in speech (NH 11.174) and the consul of 251 as clear and faultless (NH 7.140; cf. Val. Max. 8.13.1; Cic. Sen. 30), M. G. Morgan rejects Metellus Delmaticus, Cos. 119, in favor of the Cos. of 251, pontifex and pontifex maximus, and victor over the Carthaginians at Panormus when proconsul in 250 (Phoenix 27, 1973, 35-41). By reconciling Polybius 2.39.14-15 and 2.41.2, he brings support. to the argument for dating that victory to his proconsulship early in 250 (CQ 22, 1972, 123-129; MRR 2.213). On the elephant coinage, see now Crawford, RRC 1.287, no. 262, 128 B.C., and below on nos. 93 and 91. (Broughton MRR III)
  • Decemvir Agris Dandis Assignandis c. 232 (Broughton MRR III) Expand
    • Cos. 251, 247. Xvir agris dandis 232? In the laudatio pronounced by his son, Q. Metellus (81), membership on a land commission is included among his achievements (Pliny, NH 7.139- 140). J. H. Corbett suggests that the most probable occasion was the viritane assignment of Ager Gallicus under the law of Flaminius in 232 (MRR 1.225), even though there is no mention of the appointment of a commission under this law (CR 20,,1970, 7-8). Pontifex. In spite of Pliny's description of the pontifex who dedicated the temple of Ops Opifera as hesitant in speech (NH 11.174) and the consul of 251 as clear and faultless (NH 7.140; cf. Val. Max. 8.13.1; Cic. Sen. 30), M. G. Morgan rejects Metellus Delmaticus, Cos. 119, in favor of the Cos. of 251, pontifex and pontifex maximus, and victor over the Carthaginians at Panormus when proconsul in 250 (Phoenix 27, 1973, 35-41). By reconciling Polybius 2.39.14-15 and 2.41.2, he brings support. to the argument for dating that victory to his proconsulship early in 250 (CQ 22, 1972, 123-129; MRR 2.213). On the elephant coinage, see now Crawford, RRC 1.287, no. 262, 128 B.C., and below on nos. 93 and 91. (Broughton MRR III)
  • Dictator 224 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Appointed to hold the elections (Fast. Cap., name entire, Degrassi 44f., 118, 440f.; Plin. NH 7.139). (Broughton MRR I)

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