PAPIRIUS
CURSOR, censor in B.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
xiii.
49) a
demands. His want of modesty knew no bounds, governor of a Roman province with the title of
and he is a fair specimen of a depraved and profli- proconsul, but it is not known of what province he
gate Roman of that time. But he was never- had the administration. The letter above referred
theless a man of eminent talent, especially as to is the only one extant among the ad Familiares
an orator. This Cicero saw and appreciated, and which is addressed to him. In the declaration
he never lost the hope of being able to turn the Post Reditum in Senatu (8) Cicero states, that he
talent of Curio into a proper direction. This cir- had been quaestor to Curius's father, whereas it is
cumstance and the esteem which Cicero had enter- a well-known fact, that Cicero had been quaestor
tained for Curio's father, are the only things that to Sex. Peducaeus. This contradiction is usually
can account for his tender attachment to Curio; solved by the supposition, that Curius was the
and this is one of the many instances of Cicero's adoptive son of Peducaeus. (Cic. ad Fam. ii. 19,
amiable character. The first seven letters of the ad Quint. Frat. i. 4, pro Flacc. 13. )
second book of Cicero's “ Epistolae ad Familiares" 4. M. CURIUS, one of the most intimate friends
are addressed to him. (Orelli
, Onom. Tull. ii. p. of Cicero, who had known him from his childhood,
526, &c. ; comp. Caes. B. C. ii. 23, &c. ; Vell. Pat and describes him as one of the kindest of men,
ii. 48, 55; Appian, B. C. ii. 23, &c. ; Suet. Caes. always ready to serve his friends, and as a very
29, 36, de Clar. Rhet. 1; Tacit. de Clur. Orat. 37; pattern of politeness (urbanitas). He lived for
Liv. Epit
. 109, 110; Plut. Caes. 29, &c. , Pomp. several years as a negotiator at Patrae in Pelopon-
58; Dion Cass. xl. 60, &c. ; Quintil. vi. 3. & 76; nesus. At the time when Tiro, Cicero's freedman,
Schol. Bob. in Argum. ad Cic. Orat. in Clod. et was ill at Patrae, B. c. 50 and subsequently, Curius
Cur. )
[L. S. ] took great care of him. In B. C. 46, Cicero recom-
CÚRI'TIS, a surname of Juno, which is usually mended Curius to Serv. Sulpicius, who was then
derived from the Sabine word curis, a lance or governor of Achaia, and also to Auctus, his succes-
spear, which according to the ancient notions was The intim. cy between Curius and Atticus
the symbol of the imperium and mancipium, and was still greater than that between Cicero and
would accordingly designate Juno is the ruling Curius; and the latter is said to have made a will
>
sor.
## p. 904 (#924) ############################################
904
CURSOR.
CURSOR.
a
in which Atticus and Cicero were to be the heirs of the consul L. Camillus, who had been taken
of his property, Cicero receiving one-fourth, and seriously ill. Cursor and his magister equitum,
Atticus the rest. Among Cicero's letters to his Q. Fabius, afterwards surnamed Maximus, wero
friends there are three addressed to Curius (vii. the most distinguished generals of the time.
23-26), and one (vii. 29) is addressed by Curius Shortly after Papirius had inken the field, a doubt
to Cicero. (Cic. ad. Fam. viji. 5, 6, xiii. 7, 17, 50, as to the validity of the auspices he had taken be-
xvi. 4, 5, 9, 11, ad Att. vii. 2, 3, xvi. 3. )
fore marching against the enemy, obliged him to
5. M'. Curus, a man notorious as a gambler, return to Rome and take them again. Q. Fabius
who, however, was not withstanding this appointed was left behind to supply his place, but with the
judex by Antony in B. a 44. (Cic. Phil. v. 5, express command to avoid every engagement with
viii. 9. )
the enemy during the dictator's absence. But
6. C. Curius, a brother-in-law of C. Rabirius Fabius allowed himself to be drawn into a battle
(the murderer of Saturninus), and father of the with the Samnites ncar a place called Imbrinium
C. Rabirius Postumus, who was adopted by C. or Imbrivium, and he gained a signal victory over
Rabirius. He was a man of equestrian rank, and the enemy. Papirius was fearfully exasperated at this
is called princeps ordinis equestris. He was the want of military discipline, and hastened back to
largest farmer of the public revenue, and acquired the army to punish the offender. He was pre-
great wealth by his undertakings, which he spent vented, however, from carrying his intention into
in such a manner, that he seemed to acquire it effect by the soldiers, who sympathized with Fa-
only with the view of obtaining the means for bius, and threatened the dictator with a mutiny.
shewing his kindness and benevolence. Notwith Fabius thereupon fled to Rome, where both the
standing this noble character, he was once accused senate and the people interfered on bis behalf.
of having embezzled sums of public money, and Papirius was thus obliged to pardon, though with-
with having destroyed a document by fire; but out forgiving him, and returned to the army. He
he was most honourably acquitted. (Cic. pro was looked upon by the soldiers as a tyrant, and
Rabir. perd. 3, pro Rubir. Post. 2, 17. )
in consequence of this disposition of his
army,
he
7. Q. CURIUS, a Roman senator, who had once was defeated in the first battle he fought against
held the office of quaestor, came forward in B. C. the enemy. But, after having condescended to
64 as a candidate for the consulship; but he not regain the good-will of the soldiers by promising
merely lost his election, but, being a man of a bad them the booty which they might make, he ob-
character and a notorious gambler, he was even tained a most complete victory over the Samnites,
ejected from the senate. He was a friend of Cati- and then allowed his men to plunder the country
line, and an accomplice in his conspiracy ; but he far and wide. The Samnites now sued for a truce,
betrayed the secret to his mistress Fulvia, through which was granted by the dictator for one year,
whom it became known to Cicero. Whether he on condition that they should clothe bis whole
perished during the suppression of the conspiracy, army and give thein pay for a year. Papirius
or survived it, is uncertain. In the latter case, he thereupon returned to Rome, and celebrated a
may have been the same as the Curius mentioned triumph.
by Appian (B. C. v. 137), who was in Bithynia In B. C. 320, Papirius Cursor was made consul
with Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, and attempted to the second (or the third) time, and again under-
betray him, for which he paid with his life. took the command against the Samnites in Apulia.
(Cic. de Petit. Cons. 3, in Tog. Cand. p. 426, It was however uncertain, even in the days of
and Ascon. in Tog. Cand. p. 95, ed. Orelli; Cic. Livy, whether the consuls of that year conducted
ad Att. i. 1; Sallust, Cati. 17, 23, 26; Appian, the war with two armies, or whether it was car-
B. C. ii. 3. )
(L. S. ) ried on by a dictator and L. Papirius as his magis-
CU'RIUS FORTUNATIA'NUS. [FORTU- ter equitum. It is certain, however, that Papirius
NATIANUS. )
blockaded Luceria, and that his camp was reduced
CU'RIUS, VI'BIUS, a commander of the ca- to such extremities by the Samnites, who cut off
valry in Caesar's army, when he commenced all supplies, that he would have been lost, had he
the war against Pompey in Italy. Several of not been relieved by the army of his colleague, Q.
Pompey's generals at the time deserted to Vibius Publilius Philo. He continued his operations in
Curius. (Caes. B. C. i. 24; Cic. ad Att. ii. 20, ix. Apulia in the year B. C. 319 also, for which he
6; Quintil. vi. 3. $ 73. )
[L. S. ] was likewise appointed consul. About this time
CUROPALATES. [CODINUs. ]
the Tarentines offered to act as mediators between
CURSOR, the name of a family of the Papiria the Romans and Samnites, but were haughtily
gens, which was probably given to the first who rejected by Papirius, who now made a successful
bore it from distinguishing himself in running. attack upon the camp of the Samnites : they were
1. L.
PAPIRIUS CURSOR, censor in B. C. 393, compelled to retreat and to leave Luceria' to its
and afterwards twice military tribune, in B. C. 387 fate. Seven thousand Samnites at Luceria are
and 385. (Liv. vi. 5, 11, ix. 34. )
said to bave capitulated for a free departure, with-
2. Sp. PAPIRIUS CURSOR, a son of the former, out their arms and baggage ; and the Frentanians,
was military tribune in B. C. 380. (Liv, vi. 27. ) who attempted to revolt against the Romans, were
3. L. PAPIRIUS CURSOR, a son of No. 2, does obliged to submit as subjects and give hostages.
not occur in history till the time when he was After these things were accomplished, he returned
made magister equitum to the dictator L. Papirius to Rome and celebrated his second triumph.
Crassus in B. C. 340. In B. c. 333 he was made In B. c. 314 Papirius obtained the consulship
consul with C. Poetelius Libo, and according to for the fourth (or fifth) time. Although the war
some annals he obtained the same office a second against the Samnites was still going on, neither
time in B. C. 326, the year in which the second Papirius nor his colleague Publilius Philo is men-
Samnite war broke out. In the year following he tioned by Livy as having taken part in the cam-
was appointed dictator to conduct the war in place i paigns of thai year, which were conducted by
## p. 905 (#925) ############################################
CURSOR.
905
CURTILIUS.
dictators, while the consuls are said to have re- them to retreat. Papirius took the town of Duro-
mained at home. It is difficult to account for this nia, and he as well as his colleague ravaged Sani-
state of things.
nium, especially the territory of Antium. lle
In B. c. 313 Papirius was invested with his fifth then pitched his camp opposite the Samnite army
(or sixth) consulship. The war against the Sam- near Aquilonia, at some distance from the camp of
nites was still going on, but no battle was fought, Carvilius. Several days passed before Papirius
although the Romans made permanent conquests, attacked the enemy, and it was agreed that Carri-
and thus gave the war a decided turn in their lius should make an attack upon Cominium on the
favour. It was, as Livy states, again doubtful as same day that Papirius offered battle to the Sam-
to who had the command of the Ronan armics in nites, in order to prevent the Samnites froin ub-
that year. In B. c. 309 Papirius was made dicta- taining any succour from Cominium. Papirius
tor to conduct the war against the Samnites, to gained a brilliant victory, which he owed mainly
save the army of C. Marcius, who was in great to his cavalry, and the Samnites fied to their camp
distress in Apulin, and to wipe off the disgrace of without being able to maintain it. They however
Caudium, which Rome had suffered the year be- still continued to fight against the two consuls,
fore. His appointment to the dictatorship was a and even beat Carvilius near Herculaneum ; but it
matter of some difficulty. Q. Fabius, who had was of no avail, for the Romans soon after again
once been his magister equitum, and had nearly got the upper hand. Papirius continued his
been sacrificed by him, was ordered to nominate operations in Samnium till the beginning of win-
Papirius. The recollection of what had happened ter, and then returned to Rome, where he and his
sixteen years before rendered it bard to the feel colleague celebrated a magnificent triumph. The
ings of Fabius to obey the command of the senate; booty which Papirius exhibited on that occasion
but he sacrificed his own personal feelings to the was very rich; but his troops, who were not satis-
good of the republic, and he nominated Papirius in fied with the plunder they had been allowed, mur-
the silence of night without saying a word. Papi- mured because he did not, like Carvilius, distribute
rius now hastened with the reserve legions to the money among them, but delivered up everything
assistance of C. Marcius. The position of the to the treasury. He dedicated the temple of Qui-
enemy, however, was so formidable, that for a time rinus, which his father had vowed, and adorned it
he merely watched them, though it would have with a solarium horologium, or a sun-dial, the first
been more in accordance with his vehement tem- that was set up in public at Rome. He was raised
per to attack them at once. Soon after, however, to the consulship again in B. C. 272, together
à battle was fought, in which the Samnites were with his former colleague, Carvilius, for the ex-
completely defeated. The dictator's triumph on ploits of their former consulship had made such an
his return to Rome was very brilliant, on account impression upon the Romans, that they were look-
of the splendid arms which he had taken from the ed up to as the only men capable of bringing the
enemy: the shields decorated with gold were dis- wearisome struggle with the Samnites to a close.
tributed among the stalls of the bankers around They entirely realized the hopes of their nation,
the forum, probably for no other purpose than to for the Samnites, Lucanians, and Bruttians were
be hung out during processions. This triumph is compelled to submit to the majesty of Rome. But
the last event that is mentioned in the life of Pa- we have no account of the manner in which those
pirius, whence we must infer that he died soon nations were thus reduced. On his return to
after. He had the reputation of being the greatest Rome, Papirius celebrated his second triumph, and
general of his age. He did not indeed extend the after this event we hear no more of him. (Liv. x.
Roman dominion by conquest, but it was he who 9, 38, 39—47; Zonar. viii. 7; Oros. iii. 2, iv. 3;
roused Rome after the defeat and peace of Cau- Frontin, de Aquaed. i. 6, Strateg. iii. 3; Plin. H.
dium, and led her to victory. But he was, not- N. vii. 60, xxxiv. 7 ; Niebuhr, iii. pp. 390, dic. ,
withstanding, not popular, in consequence of his 524, &c. )
(L. S. ]
personal character, which was that of a rough sol- CURSOR, CAE'LIUS, a Roman eques in the
dier. He was a man of immense bodily strength, time of Tiberius, who was put to death by the
and was accustomed to partake of an excessive emperor, A. D. 21, for having falsely charged
quantity of food and wine. He had something the praetor Magius Caecilianus with high treason.
horrible and savage about him, for he delighted in (Tacit. Ann. iii. 37. )
[L. S. )
rendering the service of the soldiers as hard as he CU'RTIA GENS, an obscure patrician gens,
could : he punished cruelly and inexorabls, and of whom only one member, C. Curtius Philo, was
enjoyed the anguish of death in those whom he ever invested with the consulship, B. c. 445. This
intended to punish. (Liv. viii. 12, 23, 29, 30–36, consulship is one of the proofs that the Curtia gens
47, ix. 7, 12, 13-16, 22, 28, 38, 40; Aurel. Vict. must have been patrician, since the consulship at
de Vir. IU. 31; Eutrop. ii. 4; Oros. iii. 15; Dion that time was not accessible to the plebeians ;
Cass. Excerpt. Vat. p. 32, &c. , ed. Sturz; Cic. ad other proofs are implied in the stories about the
Fam. ix. 21; Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, iii. pp. 192 earliest Curtii who occur in Roman history. The
-250. )
fact that, in B. C. 37, C. Curtius Peducaeanus was
4. L. Papirius CURSOR, a son of No. 3, was tribune of the people, does not prove the contrary,
censor in B. c. 272. (Frontin. de Aquaed. i. 6. )
for members of the gens may have gone over to
5. L. Papirius Cursur, likewise a son of No. the plebeians. The cognomens which occur in this
3, was no less distinguished as a general than his gens under the republic are PEDUCAEAXUS, Philo,
father. He was made consul in B. C, 293 with and POSTUMUS or PostUMIUS. For those who
Sp. Carvilius Maximus, at the time of the third are mentioned in history without a cognomen, see
Samnite war. The Samnites, after having made Curtius.
[L. S. ]
immense efforts, had invaded Campania ; but the CURTI'LIUS, a Roman who belonged to the
consuls, instead of attacking them there, penetrated party of Caesar, and who, after the victory of his
into their unprotected country, and thus compelled party in B. C. 43, is described as in the possesion
## p. 906 (#926) ############################################
906
CURTIUS.
CURTIUS.
of an estate at Fundi, which had belonged to C. I have given rise to the story about the self-sacrifice
Sextilius Rufus. (Cic. au «111. xiv. 6), 10. ) [L. S. ) of Curtius. (Suet. suy. 57; Stat. Silt. i. 1. )
CURTI'LIUS MA'NCIA. [MANCIA. ]
2. CURTIUS, an accuser, was killed in the tiine
CU'RTIUS. 1. METTUS or METIUS CURTIUS, of the proscription of Sulla, or perlaps even before,
a Sabine of the time of Romulus. During the by C. Marius, near the lake Servilius. (Cic. pro
war between the Romans and Sabines, which arose Sert. Kose. 32 ; Senec. de Provil. 3. )
from the rape of the Sabine women, the Sabines 3. C. Curtius, probably a son of the preceding,
had gained possession of the Roman arx.
demands. His want of modesty knew no bounds, governor of a Roman province with the title of
and he is a fair specimen of a depraved and profli- proconsul, but it is not known of what province he
gate Roman of that time. But he was never- had the administration. The letter above referred
theless a man of eminent talent, especially as to is the only one extant among the ad Familiares
an orator. This Cicero saw and appreciated, and which is addressed to him. In the declaration
he never lost the hope of being able to turn the Post Reditum in Senatu (8) Cicero states, that he
talent of Curio into a proper direction. This cir- had been quaestor to Curius's father, whereas it is
cumstance and the esteem which Cicero had enter- a well-known fact, that Cicero had been quaestor
tained for Curio's father, are the only things that to Sex. Peducaeus. This contradiction is usually
can account for his tender attachment to Curio; solved by the supposition, that Curius was the
and this is one of the many instances of Cicero's adoptive son of Peducaeus. (Cic. ad Fam. ii. 19,
amiable character. The first seven letters of the ad Quint. Frat. i. 4, pro Flacc. 13. )
second book of Cicero's “ Epistolae ad Familiares" 4. M. CURIUS, one of the most intimate friends
are addressed to him. (Orelli
, Onom. Tull. ii. p. of Cicero, who had known him from his childhood,
526, &c. ; comp. Caes. B. C. ii. 23, &c. ; Vell. Pat and describes him as one of the kindest of men,
ii. 48, 55; Appian, B. C. ii. 23, &c. ; Suet. Caes. always ready to serve his friends, and as a very
29, 36, de Clar. Rhet. 1; Tacit. de Clur. Orat. 37; pattern of politeness (urbanitas). He lived for
Liv. Epit
. 109, 110; Plut. Caes. 29, &c. , Pomp. several years as a negotiator at Patrae in Pelopon-
58; Dion Cass. xl. 60, &c. ; Quintil. vi. 3. & 76; nesus. At the time when Tiro, Cicero's freedman,
Schol. Bob. in Argum. ad Cic. Orat. in Clod. et was ill at Patrae, B. c. 50 and subsequently, Curius
Cur. )
[L. S. ] took great care of him. In B. C. 46, Cicero recom-
CÚRI'TIS, a surname of Juno, which is usually mended Curius to Serv. Sulpicius, who was then
derived from the Sabine word curis, a lance or governor of Achaia, and also to Auctus, his succes-
spear, which according to the ancient notions was The intim. cy between Curius and Atticus
the symbol of the imperium and mancipium, and was still greater than that between Cicero and
would accordingly designate Juno is the ruling Curius; and the latter is said to have made a will
>
sor.
## p. 904 (#924) ############################################
904
CURSOR.
CURSOR.
a
in which Atticus and Cicero were to be the heirs of the consul L. Camillus, who had been taken
of his property, Cicero receiving one-fourth, and seriously ill. Cursor and his magister equitum,
Atticus the rest. Among Cicero's letters to his Q. Fabius, afterwards surnamed Maximus, wero
friends there are three addressed to Curius (vii. the most distinguished generals of the time.
23-26), and one (vii. 29) is addressed by Curius Shortly after Papirius had inken the field, a doubt
to Cicero. (Cic. ad. Fam. viji. 5, 6, xiii. 7, 17, 50, as to the validity of the auspices he had taken be-
xvi. 4, 5, 9, 11, ad Att. vii. 2, 3, xvi. 3. )
fore marching against the enemy, obliged him to
5. M'. Curus, a man notorious as a gambler, return to Rome and take them again. Q. Fabius
who, however, was not withstanding this appointed was left behind to supply his place, but with the
judex by Antony in B. a 44. (Cic. Phil. v. 5, express command to avoid every engagement with
viii. 9. )
the enemy during the dictator's absence. But
6. C. Curius, a brother-in-law of C. Rabirius Fabius allowed himself to be drawn into a battle
(the murderer of Saturninus), and father of the with the Samnites ncar a place called Imbrinium
C. Rabirius Postumus, who was adopted by C. or Imbrivium, and he gained a signal victory over
Rabirius. He was a man of equestrian rank, and the enemy. Papirius was fearfully exasperated at this
is called princeps ordinis equestris. He was the want of military discipline, and hastened back to
largest farmer of the public revenue, and acquired the army to punish the offender. He was pre-
great wealth by his undertakings, which he spent vented, however, from carrying his intention into
in such a manner, that he seemed to acquire it effect by the soldiers, who sympathized with Fa-
only with the view of obtaining the means for bius, and threatened the dictator with a mutiny.
shewing his kindness and benevolence. Notwith Fabius thereupon fled to Rome, where both the
standing this noble character, he was once accused senate and the people interfered on bis behalf.
of having embezzled sums of public money, and Papirius was thus obliged to pardon, though with-
with having destroyed a document by fire; but out forgiving him, and returned to the army. He
he was most honourably acquitted. (Cic. pro was looked upon by the soldiers as a tyrant, and
Rabir. perd. 3, pro Rubir. Post. 2, 17. )
in consequence of this disposition of his
army,
he
7. Q. CURIUS, a Roman senator, who had once was defeated in the first battle he fought against
held the office of quaestor, came forward in B. C. the enemy. But, after having condescended to
64 as a candidate for the consulship; but he not regain the good-will of the soldiers by promising
merely lost his election, but, being a man of a bad them the booty which they might make, he ob-
character and a notorious gambler, he was even tained a most complete victory over the Samnites,
ejected from the senate. He was a friend of Cati- and then allowed his men to plunder the country
line, and an accomplice in his conspiracy ; but he far and wide. The Samnites now sued for a truce,
betrayed the secret to his mistress Fulvia, through which was granted by the dictator for one year,
whom it became known to Cicero. Whether he on condition that they should clothe bis whole
perished during the suppression of the conspiracy, army and give thein pay for a year. Papirius
or survived it, is uncertain. In the latter case, he thereupon returned to Rome, and celebrated a
may have been the same as the Curius mentioned triumph.
by Appian (B. C. v. 137), who was in Bithynia In B. C. 320, Papirius Cursor was made consul
with Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, and attempted to the second (or the third) time, and again under-
betray him, for which he paid with his life. took the command against the Samnites in Apulia.
(Cic. de Petit. Cons. 3, in Tog. Cand. p. 426, It was however uncertain, even in the days of
and Ascon. in Tog. Cand. p. 95, ed. Orelli; Cic. Livy, whether the consuls of that year conducted
ad Att. i. 1; Sallust, Cati. 17, 23, 26; Appian, the war with two armies, or whether it was car-
B. C. ii. 3. )
(L. S. ) ried on by a dictator and L. Papirius as his magis-
CU'RIUS FORTUNATIA'NUS. [FORTU- ter equitum. It is certain, however, that Papirius
NATIANUS. )
blockaded Luceria, and that his camp was reduced
CU'RIUS, VI'BIUS, a commander of the ca- to such extremities by the Samnites, who cut off
valry in Caesar's army, when he commenced all supplies, that he would have been lost, had he
the war against Pompey in Italy. Several of not been relieved by the army of his colleague, Q.
Pompey's generals at the time deserted to Vibius Publilius Philo. He continued his operations in
Curius. (Caes. B. C. i. 24; Cic. ad Att. ii. 20, ix. Apulia in the year B. C. 319 also, for which he
6; Quintil. vi. 3. $ 73. )
[L. S. ] was likewise appointed consul. About this time
CUROPALATES. [CODINUs. ]
the Tarentines offered to act as mediators between
CURSOR, the name of a family of the Papiria the Romans and Samnites, but were haughtily
gens, which was probably given to the first who rejected by Papirius, who now made a successful
bore it from distinguishing himself in running. attack upon the camp of the Samnites : they were
1. L.
PAPIRIUS CURSOR, censor in B. C. 393, compelled to retreat and to leave Luceria' to its
and afterwards twice military tribune, in B. C. 387 fate. Seven thousand Samnites at Luceria are
and 385. (Liv. vi. 5, 11, ix. 34. )
said to bave capitulated for a free departure, with-
2. Sp. PAPIRIUS CURSOR, a son of the former, out their arms and baggage ; and the Frentanians,
was military tribune in B. C. 380. (Liv, vi. 27. ) who attempted to revolt against the Romans, were
3. L. PAPIRIUS CURSOR, a son of No. 2, does obliged to submit as subjects and give hostages.
not occur in history till the time when he was After these things were accomplished, he returned
made magister equitum to the dictator L. Papirius to Rome and celebrated his second triumph.
Crassus in B. C. 340. In B. c. 333 he was made In B. c. 314 Papirius obtained the consulship
consul with C. Poetelius Libo, and according to for the fourth (or fifth) time. Although the war
some annals he obtained the same office a second against the Samnites was still going on, neither
time in B. C. 326, the year in which the second Papirius nor his colleague Publilius Philo is men-
Samnite war broke out. In the year following he tioned by Livy as having taken part in the cam-
was appointed dictator to conduct the war in place i paigns of thai year, which were conducted by
## p. 905 (#925) ############################################
CURSOR.
905
CURTILIUS.
dictators, while the consuls are said to have re- them to retreat. Papirius took the town of Duro-
mained at home. It is difficult to account for this nia, and he as well as his colleague ravaged Sani-
state of things.
nium, especially the territory of Antium. lle
In B. c. 313 Papirius was invested with his fifth then pitched his camp opposite the Samnite army
(or sixth) consulship. The war against the Sam- near Aquilonia, at some distance from the camp of
nites was still going on, but no battle was fought, Carvilius. Several days passed before Papirius
although the Romans made permanent conquests, attacked the enemy, and it was agreed that Carri-
and thus gave the war a decided turn in their lius should make an attack upon Cominium on the
favour. It was, as Livy states, again doubtful as same day that Papirius offered battle to the Sam-
to who had the command of the Ronan armics in nites, in order to prevent the Samnites froin ub-
that year. In B. c. 309 Papirius was made dicta- taining any succour from Cominium. Papirius
tor to conduct the war against the Samnites, to gained a brilliant victory, which he owed mainly
save the army of C. Marcius, who was in great to his cavalry, and the Samnites fied to their camp
distress in Apulin, and to wipe off the disgrace of without being able to maintain it. They however
Caudium, which Rome had suffered the year be- still continued to fight against the two consuls,
fore. His appointment to the dictatorship was a and even beat Carvilius near Herculaneum ; but it
matter of some difficulty. Q. Fabius, who had was of no avail, for the Romans soon after again
once been his magister equitum, and had nearly got the upper hand. Papirius continued his
been sacrificed by him, was ordered to nominate operations in Samnium till the beginning of win-
Papirius. The recollection of what had happened ter, and then returned to Rome, where he and his
sixteen years before rendered it bard to the feel colleague celebrated a magnificent triumph. The
ings of Fabius to obey the command of the senate; booty which Papirius exhibited on that occasion
but he sacrificed his own personal feelings to the was very rich; but his troops, who were not satis-
good of the republic, and he nominated Papirius in fied with the plunder they had been allowed, mur-
the silence of night without saying a word. Papi- mured because he did not, like Carvilius, distribute
rius now hastened with the reserve legions to the money among them, but delivered up everything
assistance of C. Marcius. The position of the to the treasury. He dedicated the temple of Qui-
enemy, however, was so formidable, that for a time rinus, which his father had vowed, and adorned it
he merely watched them, though it would have with a solarium horologium, or a sun-dial, the first
been more in accordance with his vehement tem- that was set up in public at Rome. He was raised
per to attack them at once. Soon after, however, to the consulship again in B. C. 272, together
à battle was fought, in which the Samnites were with his former colleague, Carvilius, for the ex-
completely defeated. The dictator's triumph on ploits of their former consulship had made such an
his return to Rome was very brilliant, on account impression upon the Romans, that they were look-
of the splendid arms which he had taken from the ed up to as the only men capable of bringing the
enemy: the shields decorated with gold were dis- wearisome struggle with the Samnites to a close.
tributed among the stalls of the bankers around They entirely realized the hopes of their nation,
the forum, probably for no other purpose than to for the Samnites, Lucanians, and Bruttians were
be hung out during processions. This triumph is compelled to submit to the majesty of Rome. But
the last event that is mentioned in the life of Pa- we have no account of the manner in which those
pirius, whence we must infer that he died soon nations were thus reduced. On his return to
after. He had the reputation of being the greatest Rome, Papirius celebrated his second triumph, and
general of his age. He did not indeed extend the after this event we hear no more of him. (Liv. x.
Roman dominion by conquest, but it was he who 9, 38, 39—47; Zonar. viii. 7; Oros. iii. 2, iv. 3;
roused Rome after the defeat and peace of Cau- Frontin, de Aquaed. i. 6, Strateg. iii. 3; Plin. H.
dium, and led her to victory. But he was, not- N. vii. 60, xxxiv. 7 ; Niebuhr, iii. pp. 390, dic. ,
withstanding, not popular, in consequence of his 524, &c. )
(L. S. ]
personal character, which was that of a rough sol- CURSOR, CAE'LIUS, a Roman eques in the
dier. He was a man of immense bodily strength, time of Tiberius, who was put to death by the
and was accustomed to partake of an excessive emperor, A. D. 21, for having falsely charged
quantity of food and wine. He had something the praetor Magius Caecilianus with high treason.
horrible and savage about him, for he delighted in (Tacit. Ann. iii. 37. )
[L. S. )
rendering the service of the soldiers as hard as he CU'RTIA GENS, an obscure patrician gens,
could : he punished cruelly and inexorabls, and of whom only one member, C. Curtius Philo, was
enjoyed the anguish of death in those whom he ever invested with the consulship, B. c. 445. This
intended to punish. (Liv. viii. 12, 23, 29, 30–36, consulship is one of the proofs that the Curtia gens
47, ix. 7, 12, 13-16, 22, 28, 38, 40; Aurel. Vict. must have been patrician, since the consulship at
de Vir. IU. 31; Eutrop. ii. 4; Oros. iii. 15; Dion that time was not accessible to the plebeians ;
Cass. Excerpt. Vat. p. 32, &c. , ed. Sturz; Cic. ad other proofs are implied in the stories about the
Fam. ix. 21; Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, iii. pp. 192 earliest Curtii who occur in Roman history. The
-250. )
fact that, in B. C. 37, C. Curtius Peducaeanus was
4. L. Papirius CURSOR, a son of No. 3, was tribune of the people, does not prove the contrary,
censor in B. c. 272. (Frontin. de Aquaed. i. 6. )
for members of the gens may have gone over to
5. L. Papirius Cursur, likewise a son of No. the plebeians. The cognomens which occur in this
3, was no less distinguished as a general than his gens under the republic are PEDUCAEAXUS, Philo,
father. He was made consul in B. C, 293 with and POSTUMUS or PostUMIUS. For those who
Sp. Carvilius Maximus, at the time of the third are mentioned in history without a cognomen, see
Samnite war. The Samnites, after having made Curtius.
[L. S. ]
immense efforts, had invaded Campania ; but the CURTI'LIUS, a Roman who belonged to the
consuls, instead of attacking them there, penetrated party of Caesar, and who, after the victory of his
into their unprotected country, and thus compelled party in B. C. 43, is described as in the possesion
## p. 906 (#926) ############################################
906
CURTIUS.
CURTIUS.
of an estate at Fundi, which had belonged to C. I have given rise to the story about the self-sacrifice
Sextilius Rufus. (Cic. au «111. xiv. 6), 10. ) [L. S. ) of Curtius. (Suet. suy. 57; Stat. Silt. i. 1. )
CURTI'LIUS MA'NCIA. [MANCIA. ]
2. CURTIUS, an accuser, was killed in the tiine
CU'RTIUS. 1. METTUS or METIUS CURTIUS, of the proscription of Sulla, or perlaps even before,
a Sabine of the time of Romulus. During the by C. Marius, near the lake Servilius. (Cic. pro
war between the Romans and Sabines, which arose Sert. Kose. 32 ; Senec. de Provil. 3. )
from the rape of the Sabine women, the Sabines 3. C. Curtius, probably a son of the preceding,
had gained possession of the Roman arx.