AGNOMEN, among the Romans, was a kind of surname, usually given on occasion of some particular action, habit, or other circumstance of the bearer. See NAME, and SURNAME. Thus, one of the Scipios was named Africanus, and the other Asiaticus, from the brave achievements which one did in Africa, and the other in Asia.
The Agnomen was the third in order of the three Roman names. Thus, in Marcus Tullius Cicero, Marcus is the Prenomen, Tullius the Nomen, and Cicero the Agnomen. See NOMEN, PRENOMEN, etc.
AGNOMEN
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- Written by: Ephraïm Chambers
- Category: Unclassified