Helvidia (gens)

Origin

Branches and cognomina

Members

• Publius Helvidius Rufus, a native of Larinum, mentioned by Cicero.
• Helvidius Priscus, a legate serving under Gaius Ummidius Quadratus, the governor of Syria. He was sent across the Taurus Mountains in AD 52, to help settle the province of Cappadocia.
• Helvidius Priscus, a statesman from the reigns of Nero to Vespasian. His father was a centurion named Cluvius, but he was adopted into the Helvidian gens. Priscus was tribune of the plebs in AD 56, and praetor in 70. His republican sentiments and defiance toward the emperors brought about his banishment on two occasions, and ultimately resulted in his execution under Vespasian.
• Helvidius, son of the praetor, held the consulship in an uncertain year. Schooled by his father's fate, carefully avoided open opposition to the emperors, but in the reign of Domitian, the delatores accused him of satirizing one of the emperor's divorces; he was condemned in the Senate and dragged to prison, followed shortly by his execution. His death was avenged by Pliny the Younger, who impeached the leader of the delatores.
• Helvidius, son of the consular, survived his father.
• Helvidia, elder daughter of the consular, died in infancy.
• Helvidia, younger daughter of the consular, died in infancy.
• Helvidius, the author of an early Christian treatise arguing against the perpetual virginity of Mary, based on the "brothers and sisters" of Jesus mentioned in the Bible. St. Jerome wrote a treatise in opposition to Helvidius' argument.