The gens Varena or Varenia, rarely Vorena, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens are mentioned in Roman literature, but many others are known from inscriptions. Several of the Vareni held minor magistracies at Rome or in other towns during imperial times, including Lucius Varenus Lucullus, who was a military tribune and pontifex during the first century, and Quintus Varenus Ingenuus, who served as aedile and quaestor. Vorena, a woman of this family during the second or third century, seems to have been a Vestal Virgin.
Origin The nomen Varenus belongs to a class of gentilicia ending in , typically derived from other nomina, or occasionally from the names of places.Chase, p. 118. Many of the Vareni are known from inscriptions from towns of Umbria and Sabina, likely indicating their place of origin.
Praenomina The main praenomina of the Vareni were Marcus, Lucius, and Titus, followed by Publius and Gaius. All of these were among the most common praenomina throughout Roman history. A few of the Vareni are found with other praenomina, including Quintus and Gnaeus, while there are individual examples of Decimus, Sextus, and Statius, a praenomen found primarily among the Oscan and Umbrian-speaking peoples of Italy. A freedwoman named Rufa Vorena who lived under the early Empire provides an example of a feminine praenomen.
Members
Varena C. l., a freedwoman, dedicated a first-century BC tomb at Spoletium in Umbria for her husband, Publius Marcius Varus.. Lucius Varenus, accused of murdering Gaius Varenus and attempting to murder Gnaeus Varenus, was defended by Cicero about 79 BC, but nonetheless convicted. Cicero's oration has been lost.Quintilian, x. 13. § 28; vii. 1. § 9; ix. 2. § 56.Cicero, Fragmenta, iv. p. 443.Drumann, v. pp. 244, 245."Lucius Varenus", in Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, p. 1220. Gaius Varenus, murdered about 80 BC, ostensibly by his relative, Lucius Varenus, who was convicted despite being defended by Cicero. Gnaeus Varenus, said to have survived an attempt on his life by his relative, Lucius Varenus, who was tried and convicted for the crime, along with the murder of Gaius Varenus. Gnaeus Varenus L. f., the husband of Rutila Brutsena, with whom he was buried at Interamnia Praetuttiorum in Picenum, in a tomb dating between the middle of the first century BC and the middle of the first century AD.. Lucius Varenus or Vorenus, a centurion under the command of Quintus Cicero during the Gallic Wars. He and a rival, Titus Pulfio, fought heroically against the Gauls during a sortie, each rescuing the other despite their rivalry.Caesar, De Bello Gallico, v. 44. Marcus Varenus M. l. Anteros, a freedman mentioned in a funeral inscription from Rome, dating from the latter half of the first century BC.. Lucius Varenus St. f. Taurus, buried at Volsinii in Etruria, in a tomb dating from the latter half of the first century BC.. Rufa Vorena P. l. Ge, a freedwoman named in an inscription from Cales in Campania, dating from the late first century BC, or the early first century AD.. Lucius Varenus L. f. Celer, named in a first-century sepulchral inscription from Amiternum in Sabinum.. Varenus Clarus, a freedman named in a first-century sepulchral inscription from Fulginiae in Umbria.BDSPU, 2020-15,7. Marcus Varenius Diogenes, built a first-century sepulchre at Rome for himself, his wife, Veturia Maxima, and for Marcus Varenius Fortunatus Maius and Marcus Varenius Fortunatus, probably their sons.. Marcus Varenius Fortunatus, a boy buried at Rome, aged seven years, ten months, and fifteen days, in a first-century sepulchre at Rome, built by Marcus Varenius Diogenes, likely his father, for himself, his wife, Veturia Maxima, and Marcus Varenius Fortunatus Maius, perhaps another son. Marcus Varenius Fortunatus Maius, buried at Rome in a first-century sepulchre built by Marcus Varenius Diogenes, probably his father, for himself, his wife, Veturia Maxima, and another Marcus Varenius Fortunatus, perhaps another son. Varenia M. l. Eleutheris, a freedwoman buried at Rome, aged twenty, named in a first-century sepulchral inscription, along with Marcus Varenius Maximus.. Marcus Varenus Felix, named in a first-century inscription from Rome.. Marcus Varenius Maximus, named in a first-century sepulchral inscription from Rome, along with the freedwoman Varenia Eleutheris. Vorena I[...] Maxima, named in a first-century sepulchral inscription from Amiternum, along with the freedwoman Coelia Salvia.. Varena Sabina, the wife of Gnaeus Caninius Faustus, with whom she was buried at Tusculum in Latium, in a family sepulchre built by the freedman Marcus Publilius Stratus, dating from the first half of the first century., . Varena Cn. l. Hilara, a freedwoman buried in a first-century tomb at Forum Cassii in Etruria.. Sextus Varenus T. f. Priscus, one of the Seviri Augustales, buried at Tarnaiae Nantuatium in Alpes Poeninae, aged fifty-seven, in a tomb dating from the first century, dedicated by one or more of his siblings.. Varena Lacte, the wife of Gaius Alledius Marcellus, with whom she dedicated a first- or second-century tomb at Vicus Fificulanus in Sabinum for their son, Gaius Alledius Marcellus, aged fourteen years, four months, and twenty-seven days.. Decimus Varenus Bitia, a physician, some of whose prescriptions are recorded in an inscription from the site of modern Rubenach, formerly part of Germania Inferior, dating between the first century and the middle of the third.. Quintus Varenus, buried at Hispellum in Umbria, in a sepulchre dating from the beginning of the first century. The freedman Lucius Varenus Chilo was buried in the same sepulchre.. Lucius Varenus Chilo, the freedman of Niger, buried in a sepulchre at Hispellum, dating from the beginning of the first century. A Quintus Varenus was buried in the same sepulchre. Varena C. f. Candida, the wife of Gaius Arruntius Ingenuus, buried at Carnuntum in Pannonia Superior, aged thirty-five, in a family sepulchre dating from the early or middle part of the first century, built by her husband for Varena and their sons, Gaius Arruntius Lentulus, aged five, and Gaius Arruntius Ligus, aged three.. Varena Lycoris, made an offering to Fortuna at Fulginiae, recorded in an inscription from the early first century.. Lucius Varenus L. f. Lucullus, one of the municipal duumvirs at Fulginiae, had been a military tribune, praefectus fabrum, in charge of the military engineers, and pontifex. His career is recorded in an inscription dating between the reigns of Tiberius and Claudius.. Varenia Montanilla, the daughter of Montanus, buried at the site of modern Cavillargues, formerly part of Aquitania, aged twenty-two, in a tomb built by her husband, Quintus Solonius Philippus, dating between the first and third century.. Varena Q. f. Major, the wife of Marcus Lartidius, named in inscriptions from Tibur., . Marcus Varenus Ɔ. M. Lartidi l. Clarus, freed by Marcus Lartidius and his wife, Varena Major, according to an inscription from Nola in Campania, dating from AD 21.. Marcus Varenus Ɔ. M. Lartidi l. Diphilus, freed by Marcus Lartidius and his wife, Varena Major, made a donation to the maintenance of the temple of Hercules at Tibur in Latium., .. Marcus Varenus Herma, buried at Rome in a tomb dating from the middle portion of the first century, dedicated by his clientes Marcus Varenus Hermes and Marcus Varenus Eutychus.. Marcus Varenus Hermes, together with Marcus Varenus Eutychus, dedicated a mid-first-century tomb at Rome for their patron, Marcus Varenus Herma. Marcus Varenus Eutychus, together with Marcus Varenus Hermes, dedicated a mid-first-century tomb at Rome for their patron, Marcus Varenus Herma. Quintus Varenus C. f. Ingenuus, buried at Tuder in Sabinum, along with his concubine, Flaminia Horeis, in a tomb dating between the middle of the first and end of the second century, had been aedile, quaestor, and duumvir jure dicundo.. Marcus Varenus M. f. Valens, a veteran of the Legio VII Claudia, made a will naming his freedman, Marcus Varenus Secundus, as his heir, commemorated by an inscription from Aequum in Dalmatia, dating between the reign of Claudius and the middle of the second century.. Marcus Varenus M. l. Secundus, the freedman of Marcus Varenus Valens, who named him as his heir, according to an inscription from Aequum, dating between the reign of Claudius and the middle of the second century. Marcus Varenus Tyrannus, the freedman of Clarus, mentioned in an inscription relating to the amphitheatre at Praeneste in Latium, dating from the latter part of the reign of Claudius.. Varena Chelido, dedicated a tomb at Rome, dating between the middle of the first and the middle of the second century, for her patron and husband, Publius Aerenus Teres, aged forty-nine.. Marcus Varenus Aprilis, a potter whose maker's mark has been found on small earthenware from Pompeii in Campania.. Marcus Varenus Crescens, a potter whose work has been found at Pompeii.–c. Publius Varenus Zetus, named on a first-century bronze label from Pompeii.. Publius Varenus Q. f. Modestus, a native of Ariminum in Cisalpine Gaul, was a soldier in the ninth cohort of the Praetorian Guard at Rome, serving in the century of Maturus. He was buried in a first-century tomb at Rome, aged forty, having served for twenty years.. Varena Secunda, named in a late first- or early second-century inscription from Rome, along with a Tessia.. Titus Varenus Priscus, one of the seviri Augustales, buried at Ameria in Umbria, in a tomb dating between the middle of the first century and the end of the second.. Varenus Atilius, together with his wife, Severina, dedicated a second-century tomb at Peltuinum in Sabinum for their son, Chrestus, aged six years, one month.. Varenius Fortunatus, inurned in a second-century cinerarium at Rome, along with Aemilia Ammia.Gregori, Epigrafica dell'antiquarium comunale del Celio, 487. Varenia Helena, together with Lucius Valerius Justus, one of the heirs of Valerius of Alexandria, a soldier buried in a second-century tomb at Misenum in Campania, aged fifty-six years, four months, and twelve days, having served for twenty-six years. The inscription naming them may be a modern forgery.. Marcus Varenius Januarius, buried at Rome, aged ninety-six, along with his wife, Lusia Nomice, in a second-century tomb dedicated by their client, Marcus Varenius Felix.. Marcus Varenius Felix, dedicated a second-century tomb at Rome for his patrons, Marcus Varenius Januarius and his wife, Lusia Nomice. Varenia Justina, the wife of Thorasius Felix, with whom she dedicated a second-century tomb at Sassina in Umbria for their daughter, Thorasia Marcellina, aged fourteen years, seven months, and fourteen days.. Gaius Varenus Privatus, buried in a second-century tomb at Aquileia in Venetia and Histria, dedicated by his daughter, Clodia Moschis.. Varena, a woman named in a second- or third-century sepulchral inscription from Viminacium in Moesia Superior.. Vorena, at one time a Vestal Virgin, dedicated a second- or third-century tomb at Ostia in Latium for her son, Quintus Vorenus.. Quintus Vorenus, buried in a second- or third-century tomb at Ostia, dedicated by his mother, Vorena, who had been a Vestal Virgin. Varenia Felicissima, dedicated a second- or third-century tomb at Rome for her daughter, Aurelia Hermione.. Varena Jucunda, the wife of Gaius Turranius Hermadion, with whom she dedicated a second- or third-century tomb at Rome for their children, Augurinus, aged twelve years, two months, twenty-five days, and Augurina, aged six years, four months, four days.. Varenius Montanus, buried at Lambaesis in Numidia, aged sixty-seven, in a second- or third-century tomb built by his wife, Julia Licinia..