Atia


ATIA, gens plebeia – which writers have divided into two families, whose respective surnames, as they appear on coins, were Balbus and Labienus. The Atii, or Atti take their fabulous origin from the Trojan Atys: Virgil says.

Alter Atys, genus unde Atti Iixere Latini.

Perhaps, says Pitiscus, the poet spake thus, to flatter Augustus, whose mother was of the plebian stock – a stock so obscure as never to have risen above the praetorship. – Atinus Balbus is named on a rare second brass, for an accurate engraving of which see Visconti, Iconographie Romaine, part i. Pl. v. fig. 1.

Obv. – M. ATIUS BALBUS. PR. – Bare head of Balbus.

Rev. – SARD. PATER. – Head of a man strangely attired.

The above coin shews that Atius Balbus was sent to Sardinia as Praetor, and that Augustus having already obtained submission to his rule from the Sardinians, this coin was struck with the head of Atius, in acknowledgement of their obligations to him. –”Its barbarous workmanship,” adds Eckhel, “savours strongly of Sardinia, always inhospitable to the elegant arts.” – Sardus Pater, whom the reverse exhibits, was said to be the son of Hercules, who having landed on the Sardinian coast, gave his name to that island. – For a coin and some account of a member of this family bearing its second surname, and who figures historically in the annals of the later republic, see Lubienus




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