I.the name of a Roman gens.
1. P. Silius Nerva, a proprœtor in Bithynia and Pontus, to whom are addressed the letters Cic. Fam. 13, 47, and 61 sqq.; cf. id. Att. 10, 13, 3.—
2. T. Silius, a military tribune under Cœsar, Caes. B. G. 3, 7 fin.—
3. C. Silius Italicus, a celebrated Roman poet in the latter half of the first century of the Christian era, author of a poem still extant, called Punica, Plin. Ep. 3, 7; Mart. 4, 14, 1; v. Bähr, Röm. Lit. 9, § 63 sq.—Hence, Sīlĭānus , a, um, adj., of or belonging to a Silius, Silian: “villa, negotium,” Cic. Att. 12, 27; cf. id. ib. 12, 31.
