Steia gens


The gens Steia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned by ancient writers, but several are known from inscriptions, and at least some of them were of senatorial rank. A large number of the Steii settled in the provinces of Africa and Numidia.

Origin

The nomen Steius resembles names belonging to a large class of gentilicia formed using the suffix ', which was typical of Oscan gentes. However, because the nomen is so short, this resemblance may be superficial, with ' belonging to the root, rather than being part of a gentile-forming suffix. Besides the African colonials, all of the known Steii lived at or in the immediate vicinity of Rome, in Latium, suggesting that the family might be of Latin origin.

Praenomina

The Steii known from inscriptions used only the most common praenomina, including Lucius, Gaius, Marcus, and Publius, with no obvious preference.

Members