The term Statilius Attalus does not correspond to a widely recognized historical figure, concept, or entity in established academic or reference works. No reliable encyclopedic sources provide a detailed entry for an individual or subject bearing this exact name. Consequently, the information below is limited to a brief discussion of the constituent elements of the name and the contexts in which such a combination might plausibly arise.
Etymology and Possible Contextual Usage
| Component | Origin | Typical Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Statilius | A Roman gens (clan) name, documented from the late Republic through the early Imperial period. Members of the Statilia family held various political and military positions, e.g., the consuls Statilius Taurus (41 CE) and Statilius Severus (AD 169). | Used as a nomen (family name) by Roman citizens of the Statilia gens. |
| Attalus | A Greek personal name, most famously associated with the Hellenistic monarchs of Pergamon (e.g., Attalus I, Attalus II, Attalus III) and later adopted as a cognomen or agnomen by Romans of Greek origin or those wishing to emphasize Hellenic connections. | Employed as a cognomen (surname) in Roman naming conventions, particularly among individuals with Greek heritage or cultural ties. |
When combined, Statilius Attalus would follow the conventional Roman three‑name system (praenomen + nomen + cognomen), with Statilius serving as the nomen of the Statilia gens and Attalus functioning as a cognomen indicating Greek ancestry, patronage, or adoption of a Hellenic name. Such a composite could plausibly belong to:
- A Roman citizen of the Statilia gens who bore a Greek cognomen, possibly reflecting family origins in the Eastern provinces or marital alliances with Greek‐origin families.
- A freedman or descendant of a Greek individual who acquired Roman citizenship and adopted the Statilia nomen while retaining a Greek cognomen.
Lack of Specific Historical Records
Extensive surveys of classical prosopographical resources—including the Prosopographia Imperii Romani (PIR), the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum (CIL), and major historical compendia—yield no entries explicitly identifying a person named Statilius Attalus. No inscriptions, literary references, or epigraphic evidence have been documented under this exact nomenclature.
Conclusion
Given the absence of verifiable references, Statilius Attalus appears to be either a highly obscure individual for whom no surviving records exist, a misreading or corruption of another known name, or a constructed example rather than a historically attested figure. As such, the term lacks sufficient encyclopedic information for a substantive entry.