Gaius Ateius Capito (jurist)

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For other people with the same name, see Gaius Ateius Capito.

Gaius Ateius Capito (about 30 BCE – 22 CE) was a Roman jurist in the time of emperors Augustus and Tiberius. He was consul suffectus in the year 5 from July to December as the colleague of Gaius Vibius Postumus.[1]

Life[]

Capito was a son of the tribune of the same name, and was educated as a jurist by Aulus Ofilius.[2] He was active as a jurist and a senator. Capito was a strong proponent of the principate which brought him in opposition to Marcus Antistius Labeo.[3] In the year 11, he became curator aquarum and was responsible for water supply and regulation throughout the city of Rome.[4] Four years later he and Lucius Arruntius were entrusted by Tiberius to work on a plan to confine the river Tiber after heavy floods, but the project was not carried out due to heavy resistance from the populace.[5]

Capito is attested as witnessing a number of legal documents. One was a senatus consultum that prohibited Senators, eques, and their descendants from actively participating in gladiatorial matches.[6] In another, he was one of seven witnesses of the , the Roman Senate's official act concerning the trial and punishment of Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, dated 10 December 20 CE.[7] His successor in the office of curator aquarum was .[4]

He does not appear to have any descendants. G.V. Sumner has speculated, based on the names, that Capito adopted the son of Sejanus, Capito Aelianus.[8]

Works[]

All of Capito's works are lost and are only known by their titles through quotes by later authors. Works known to have existed include:[9]

  • De pontificio iure ("About pontifical law"), at least six books about laws concerning the pontifices
  • De iure sacrificiorum ("About sacrificial law")
  • Coniectanea ("Miscellaneous"), at least 9 books about various themes
  • De officio senatorio ("About the senatorial office")
  • One work of unknown title about the auguries
  • Epistulae ("Letters")

Influence[]

Capito had considerable reputation as a jurist and gathered a school of jurists that became known as the Sabinian school after his pupil and successor Masurius Sabinus.[10] Capito's works were read and quoted until the sixth century, although more frequently by lexicographers (especially by Sextus Pompeius Festus and Aulus Gellius) than by jurists.

See also[]

  • Ateia (gens)

References[]

  1. ^ Ronald Syme, The Augustan Aristocracy (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989), p. 458
  2. ^ Smith, William, ed. (1880). A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London. p. 599.
  3. ^ Tacitus, Annales III.75
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Frontinus, de aquis II 102
  5. ^ Tacitus, Annales I.79
  6. ^ AE 1983, 210
  7. ^ Werner Eck, Antonio Caballos, Fernando Fernández: Das Senatus consultum de Cn. Pisone patre. Beck, München 1996, ISBN 3-406-41400-1, S. 105−106.
  8. ^ Sumner, "The Family Connections of L. Aelius Seianus", Phoenix, 19 (1965), p. 140
  9. ^ for a list of known works, see Der kleine Pauly, article "C. Ateius Capito"
  10. ^ Der kleine Pauly, articles "C. Ateius Capito" and "Sabinus Massurius"

Sources[]

  • Der kleine Pauly. Lexikon der Antike. München 1979.
  • C. Atei Capitornis Fragmenta, L. Strzelecki (ed.), Wroclaw, Polska Akademia Nauk, 1960.
  • Tacitus, Annals
  • Frontinus, De aquis urbis Romae
Political offices
Preceded by
L. Valerius Messalla Volesus
Gn. Cornelius Cinna Magnus 		Consul of the Roman Empire
July–December AD 5
with Gaius Vibius Postumus 		Succeeded by
M. Aemilius Lepidus
Lucius Arruntius
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