Marcus Vitorius Marcellus or Vitorius Marcellus (c. 60after 105) was a

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

senator who lived in the 1st century and 2nd century. He was a friend of Quintilian and the poet

Statius Publius Papinius Statius ( Greek: Πόπλιος Παπίνιος Στάτιος; ; ) was a Greco-Roman poet of the 1st century CE. His surviving Latin poetry includes an epic in twelve books, the ''Thebaid''; a collection of occasional poetry, ...

. Marcellus was suffect consul for the '' nundinium'' of September to December 105 with Gaius Caecilius Strabo as his colleague.

Life

The family of Marcellus had their roots in Teate Marrucinorum on the east side of Italy; his father was probably named Gaius Vitorius.Anthony Birley, ''Septimius Severus: The African Emperor'', revised edition (London: Routledge, 1988), p. 18 Marcellus received his education from the famous rhetorician, Quintilian, who dedicated his '' Institutio Oratoria'' to Marcellus, hoping "my treatise seemed likely to be of use for the instruction of your son, whose early age shows his way clear to the full splendor of genius." Anthony Birley identifies Lucius Septimius Severus, the grandfather of the emperor

Septimius Severus Lucius Septimius Severus (; 11 April 145 – 4 February 211) was Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna (present-day Al-Khums, Libya) in the Roman province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary suc ...

, as one of his classmates.

Ronald Syme Sir Ronald Syme, (11 March 1903 – 4 September 1989) was a New Zealand-born historian and classicist. He was regarded as the greatest historian of ancient Rome since Theodor Mommsen and the most brilliant exponent of the history of the Roman ...

finds it worthy to note that although Pliny the Younger was also a student of Quintilian, and the poet Statius knew both Pliny and Marcellus, Marcellus "gets no mention from Pliny, a close coeval (pr. 93), who prosecuted a different kind of career and gained a more rapid advancement through two urban posts."Syme
"Hadrianic Proconsuls of Africa"
''

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 " ...

'', 37 (1980), p. 5 Statius dedicated his fourth book of ''Silvae'' to Marcellus, and a number of allusions to Marcellus' life appear in the poems collected in that book. Around the years 94 to 96, Marcellus was in Rome and was ''curator viae Latinae'', or overseer of the

Via Latina The Via Latina (Latin for "Latin Road") was a Roman road of Italy, running southeast from Rome for about 200 kilometers. Route It led from the Porta Latina in the Aurelian walls of Rome to the pass of Mount Algidus; it was important in the ear ...

. In ''Silvae'' 4.4.34, Statius writes to Marcellus while he is overseeing road construction, urging Marcellus to stop working during the summer and take a holiday. He states to Marcellus "that excellent qualities will be greater achieved after relaxation". The next possible mention of Marcellus is dated after his consulship. Two inscriptions in North Africa referring to a

proconsul A proconsul was an official of ancient Rome who acted on behalf of a consul. A proconsul was typically a former consul. The term is also used in recent history for officials with delegated authority. In the Roman Republic, military command, or ...

ar governor Marcellus have been identified with Vitorius Marcellus, and his time as governor dated to 120/121.Syme, "Hadrianic Proconsuls", pp. 4-6;

Werner Eck Werner Eck (born 17 December 1939) is Professor of Ancient History at Cologne University, Germany, and a noted expert on the history and epigraphy of imperial Rome.Eck, W. (2007) ''The Age of Augustus''. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell, cover notes. Hi ...

concurs in this identification ("Jahres- und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139", ''

Chiron In Greek mythology, Chiron ( ; also Cheiron or Kheiron; ) was held to be the superlative centaur amongst his brethren since he was called the "wisest and justest of all the centaurs". Biography Chiron was notable throughout Greek mythology ...

'', 13 (1983), p. 154) Marcellus married Hosidia, the daughter of the Senator and general Gaius or

Gnaeus Hosidius Geta Gaius or Gnaeus Hosidius Geta ( ; c. 20 – after 95 AD) was a Roman Senator and general who lived in the 1st century. Geta was a praetor some time before 42. In the latter year, commanding a legion, probably the '' Legio IX Hispana'' in the Afr ...

; together they had a son, Gaius Vitorius Hosidius Geta.

Life

References

Further reading