Gaius Ateius Capito (jurist)

Gaius Ateius Capito (about 30 BCE – 22) was a Roman jurist in the time of emperors Augustus and Tiberius and consul suffectus in the year 5.

Life

Capito was a son of the tribune of the same name, and was educated as a jurist by Aulus Ofilius.^[1] He was active as a jurist and a senator and became consul suffectus in the year 5. He was a strong proponent of the principate which brought him in opposition to Marcus Antistius Labeo.^[2] In 11, he became curator aquarum and was responsible for water supply and regulation throughout the city of Rome.^[3] In 15, 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.^[4] His successor in the office of curator aquarum was Tarius Rufus.^[3]

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:^[5]

• 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.^[6] 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. Smith, William, ed. (1880). A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London. p. 599.
2. Tacitus, Annals III 75
3. Frontinus, de aquis II 102
4. Tacitus, Annals I 79
5. for a list of known works, see Der kleine Pauly, article "C. Ateius Capito"
6. 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