The Euryclids ( la, Euryclidae) were a prominent

Sparta Sparta ( Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referre ...

n family holding important offices starting in the 1st century BC.

History

The founder of the family was

Gaius Julius Eurycles Gaius Julius Eurycles or Eurycles of Sparta (b. Sparta, fl. 1st century BCE), was "''hegemon'' of the Lacedaemonians" (Λακεδαιμονίων ἡγεμών), a benefactor of Greek cities, and founder of the family of the Euryclids. Life Eury ...

, the son of Lachares. Eurycles was a Spartan commander who obtained

Roman citizenship Citizenship in ancient Rome (Latin: ''civitas'') was a privileged political and legal status afforded to free individuals with respect to laws, property, and governance. Citizenship in Ancient Rome was complex and based upon many different laws, t ...

and office, with the title of "Λακεδαιμονίων ηγεμών" ("

ruler A ruler, sometimes called a rule, line gauge, or scale, is a device used in geometry and technical drawing, as well as the engineering and construction industries, to measure distances or draw straight lines. Variants Rulers have long ...

of the

Lacedaemonians Sparta (Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referred ...

") and the position of dynast in Sparta. Eurycles' coins start in the period 31-27 BC. His son

Gaius Julius Laco Gaius, sometimes spelled ''Gajus'', Kaius, Cajus, Caius, was a common Latin praenomen; see Gaius (praenomen). People *Gaius (jurist) (), Roman jurist * Gaius Acilius *Gaius Antonius * Gaius Antonius Hybrida *Gaius Asinius Gallus *Gaius Asinius P ...

was '' duumvir quinquennalis'' and Isthmian agonothete, as was Laco's son Gaius Julius Spartiaticus; both were members of the

Roman equestrian order The ''equites'' (; literally "horse-" or "cavalrymen", though sometimes referred to as "knights" in English) constituted the second of the property-based classes of ancient Rome, ranking below the senatorial class. A member of the equestrian ...

. Eurycles also probably adopted (Gaius Julius) Deximachos c. 18-12 BC (P. Memmia), who is thought to have assumed the name Gaius Julius Eurycles Herculanus.Gill 1993 With Gaius Julius Eurycles Herculanus Lucius Vibullius Pius, the first Spartan senator, under

Trajan Trajan ( ; la, Caesar Nerva Traianus; 18 September 539/11 August 117) was Roman emperor from 98 to 117. Officially declared ''optimus princeps'' ("best ruler") by the senate, Trajan is remembered as a successful soldier-emperor who presi ...

and Hadrian, the family entered the

Roman senate The Roman Senate ( la, Senātus Rōmānus) was a governing and advisory assembly in ancient Rome. It was one of the most enduring institutions in Roman history, being established in the first days of the city of Rome (traditionally founded in ...

. Herculanus might have had no issue, and one of his heirs was

Quintus Pompeius Falco Quintus Pompeius Falco (c. 70after 140 AD) was a Roman senator and general of the early 2nd century AD. He was governor of several provinces, most notably Roman Britain, where he hosted a visit to the province by the Emperor Hadrian in the last ...

(Quintus Roscius Coelius Murena Silius Decianus Vibullius Pius Julius Eurycles Herculanus Pompeius Falco), who carried the family names forward.

References

Sources

* Atkinson, Kathleen Mary Tyrer Chrimes. Ancient Sparta: a re-examination of the evidence. Manchester University Press ND, 1949

* Birley, Anthony R.. "Hadrian and Greek Senators", ''

Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik The ''Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik'' (commonly abbreviated ZPE; "Journal of Papyrology and Epigraphy") is a peer-reviewed academic journal which contains articles that pertain to papyrology and epigraphy. It has been described as " ...

'' 116 (1997) 209–245

* {{in lang, fr Fougères, Gustave. "Inscriptions de Mantinée", ''

Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique Bulletin or The Bulletin may refer to: Periodicals (newspapers, magazines, journals) * Bulletin (online newspaper), a Swedish online newspaper * ''The Bulletin'' (Australian periodical), an Australian magazine (1880–2008) ** Bulletin Debate ...

''. 20 (1896) pp. 119-166.

* Gill, David W. J
In Search of the Social Elite in the Corinthian Church
In: ''

Tyndale Bulletin The ''Tyndale Bulletin'' is an academic journal published by Tyndale House in Cambridge, England. The publication began life as ''The Tyndale House Bulletin'' in the Summer of 1956, edited by Tyndale House's Librarian Andrew Walls. Sixteen issues ...

'' 44.2 (1993) 323-337. * Grier, Elizabeth. ''Certain Rich Men of the Second Century after Christ''. Classical Association of the Atlantic States, 1930

* Lindsay, Hugh. Augustus and Eurycles.

* Spawforth, Antony J. S. ''Roman Corinth: The Formation of a Colonial Elite''.

* Zoumbaki, Sophia B. ''The Composition of the Peloponnesian Elites in the Roman period and the Evolution of their Resistance and Approach to the Roman Rulers''.

1st-century BC Greek people Ancient Greek families Ancient Spartans