Category:Gens Aelia (Nova Roma)

AELIA GENS, plebeian, of which the family-names and surnames are Catus, Gallus, Gracilis, Lamia, Ligur, Paetus, Staienus, Stilo, Tubero. On coins this gens is also written Ailia, but A Ilia seems to be a distinct gens. The only family-names and surnames of the Aelia gens upon coins are Bala, Lamia, Paetus and Sejanus. Of Bala nothing is known. Sejanus is the name of the favorite of Tiberius, who was adopted by one of the Aelii. The first member of this gens, who obtained the consulship, was P. Aelius Paetus, in b. c. 337.

Under the empire the Aelian name became still more celebrated. It was the name of the emperor Hadrian, and consequently of the Antonines, whom he adopted.

It is doubtful to which family P. Aelius be­longed who was one of the first plebeian quaestors. B. c. 409. (Liv. iv. 54.)

Source: Smith