03-06-2007, 11:03 AM
A good source on the history behind a name can be found in William Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
Just type in a nomen or cognomen and it will give you bios of all the people referenced in the ancient sources that share that name or a derivative thereof. It will also give you other variations or portions of the names for additional reference as well as citations to the ancient sources for further research. Here's a (small) sample:
NONIUS. 1. A. Nonius, a candidate for the tribuneship of the plebs/for b. c. 100, was murÂdered by Glaucia and Appuleius Saturninus, because he was opposed to their party. (Appian, B. C. i. 28 ; Plut. Mar. 29 ; Liv. Epit. 69.)
2. Nonius, a friend of Fimbria, in whose army he was in b. c. 84, when Sulla was preparing to attack him ; but when Fimbria wished his soldiers to renew their military oath to him, and .called upon Nonius to do so first, he refused. (Appian, Mithr. 59.)
.
.
.
etc.
Just type in a nomen or cognomen and it will give you bios of all the people referenced in the ancient sources that share that name or a derivative thereof. It will also give you other variations or portions of the names for additional reference as well as citations to the ancient sources for further research. Here's a (small) sample:
NONIUS. 1. A. Nonius, a candidate for the tribuneship of the plebs/for b. c. 100, was murÂdered by Glaucia and Appuleius Saturninus, because he was opposed to their party. (Appian, B. C. i. 28 ; Plut. Mar. 29 ; Liv. Epit. 69.)
2. Nonius, a friend of Fimbria, in whose army he was in b. c. 84, when Sulla was preparing to attack him ; but when Fimbria wished his soldiers to renew their military oath to him, and .called upon Nonius to do so first, he refused. (Appian, Mithr. 59.)
.
.
.
etc.
