Cossinius

• a Roman gentile name, Cic. Balb. 23, 53 al.

the name of a Roman family which came from Tibur. None of its members ever obtained any of the higher offices of the state.

1. L. Cossinius, of Tibur, received the Roman franchise in consequence of the condemnation of T. Caelius, whom he had accused. (Cic. pro Balb. 23.) He is perhaps the same as the Cossinius who was one of the legates in the army of the praetor P. Varinius, and who fell in battle against Spartacus, B. C. 73. (Plut. Crass. 9.)

2. L. Cossinius, a Roman knight and son of the preceding (Cic. pro Balb. 23), was a friend of Cicero, Atticus, and Varro. Cicero mentions his death in B. C. 45, and expresses his grief at his loss. (Cic. Att. 1.19, 20, 2.1, ad Fam. 13.23; Varr. R. R. 2.1; Cic. Att. 13.46.)

3. L. Cossinius Anchialus, a freedman of No. 2, is recommended by Cicero to Ser. Sulpicius in B. C. 46. (Cic. Fam. 13.23.)

4. Cossinius, a Roman knight and a friend of Nero's, was poisoned by mistake by an Egyptian physician, whom the emperor had sent for in order to cure his friend. (Plin. Nat. 29.4. s. 30.)