I.a Roman proper name; so esp.,
1. Sp. Tarpeius, the father of Tarpeia, who opened the citadel to the Sabines, Liv. 1, 11; Val. Max. 9, 6, 1.—
2. Tarpeia, a Roman maiden, who treacherously opened the citadel to the Sabines, and for her reward was killed by the weight of their arms, which they cast upon her, Flor. 1, 1; Aur. Vict. Vir. Ill. 2; cf. Liv. 1, 11, 6 sqq.; Ov. M. 14, 776.—Hence,
A. Tarpēius , a, um, adj., Tarpeian: “mons,” the Tarpeian Rock, the name of a rock on the Capitoline Hill, from which criminals were thrown headlong, Varr. L. L. 5, § 41 Müll.; Liv. 1, 55; “called also, saxum,” id. 6, 20; Tac. A. 6, 19; Fest. p. 343 Müll.: “rupes,” Tac. H. 3, 71; and absol.: “in Tarpeio fodientes,” Plin. 28, 2, 4, § 15: “ad Tarpeium raptus (Metellus),” id. 7, 44, 45, § 143: “arx,” the citadel on the Capitoline Hill, Prop. 4, (5), 4, 29; Ov. M. 15, 866: “pater,” Capitoline Jupiter, Prop. 4 (5), 1, 7. cf. “fulmina,” Juv. 13, 78; “and dei,” who were worshipped on the Capitoline Hill, Luc. 8, 863: “coronae,” given to victors in the Capitoline games, Mart. 9, 41, 1; cf. “frons,” id. 9, 4, 8; “and quercus,” id. 4, 54, 1: “lex,” named after a certain Tarpeius, Cic. Rep. 2, 35, 60; Fest. p. 237 Müll.: “pudicitia,” of a Tarpeia, Prop. 1, 16, 2.—