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Mettius is a Latin ''praenomen'', or personal name, which was used in pre-Roman times and perhaps during the early centuries of the Roman Republic, but which was obsolete by the 1st century BC. The feminine form is ''Mettia''. The patronymic ''gens Mettia'' was derived from this praenomen. The name was rare in historical times, and not regularly abbreviated.〔''Dictionary of Greek & Roman Biography & Mythology''〕〔''Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft''〕〔Titus Livius, ''Ab Urbe Condita'', book I〕 The praenomen ''Mettius'' is known primarily from two individuals who lived during the earliest period of Roman history. Mettius Curtius was a Sabine warrior who fought under Titus Tatius during the time of Romulus, the founder and first king of Rome. During a major battle, the Sabine champion narrowly escaped drowning in a swampy area. Mettius Fufetius was the commander of the Alban forces during the war between Rome and Alba Longa, during the reign of Tullus Hostilius, the third king of Rome. His stalwart defense of the city against certain annihilation led to his brutal execution at the orders of Hostilius after the city was taken.〔Titus Livius, ''Ab Urbe Condita'', book I〕 As with other rare praenomina, ''Mettius'' may once have been more widespread amongst the plebeians, and in the countryside. Other than the Curtii and Fufetii, the name is known to have been used by the obscure ''gens Scuilia'', and must once have been used by the ancestors of ''gens Mettia''.〔''Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft''〕 ==Origin and Meaning of the Name== Because one of the two historical figures named ''Mettius'' was Sabine, while the other was Latin, the praenomen may have been an ancient one common to both the Latin and Oscan languages. Its meaning remains obscure; it was not mentioned by either Varro or Festus, and Chase has nothing to say about the name. Scullard equates the name with the Oscan word ''meddix'', apparently a cognate of the Latin ''magister''. If this is correct, then the name would belong to a class of praenomina including the Etruscan ''Arruns'' and ''Lars'', which were derived from words meaning ''prince'' and ''lord'', respectively.〔''Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft''〕〔Howard Hayes Scullard, ''A History of the Roman World'', 753-146 B.C. (1935).〕 Although known from only a handful of examples in Latin, the praenomen Mettius was borrowed by the Etruscans, in whose language it became ''Metie''.〔''Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft''〕〔Jacques Heurgon, ''Daily Life of the Etruscans'' (1964)〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mettius (praenomen)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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