Sophus, P. Sempro'nius
is mentioned by Pomponius (
Dig. 1. tit. 2. s. 2.37) after App. Claudius Caecus, as one who owed his name of Sophus or Wise to his great merits.
He was Tribunus Plebis in B. C. 310, and attempted to compel the censor Appius Claudius to conform to the Lex Aemilia which limited the censor's functions to eighteen months. (
Liv. 9.33.)
He was consul B. C. 304 with P. Sulpicius Severus (
Liv. 9.45).
The two consuls defeated the Aequi, and had a triumph.
He was the first plebeian consul pontifex (
Liv. 10.9) B. C. 300, and in the next year a lustrum was celebrated by him and his former colleague, as censors; and two tribes were added.
He seems to be the same person who took the praetorship at a time when Rome was alarmed by a rumour of a Gallic war (Livy,
10.21). Pomponius says that no one after him bore the name of Sophus, but a P. Sempronius Sophus was consul in B. C. 268. (Fasti) and censor in B. C. 252 (Liv.
Epit. 18 ; Fast. Capitol.), and he is called the son of Publius, who may have been the consul of B. C. 304.
There is a story of one P. Sempronius Sophus, who divorced his wife, because she had been bold enough to see the public games without his consent; but those who believe the story of Carvilius divorcing his wife suppose that this Sophus must have lived later than the consul of B. C. 304.
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G.L]
