Maso

• a surname in the gens Papiria; e. g. C. Papirius Maso (Masso), Plin. 15, 29, 38, § 126; Fast. Capitol. ad a. 523; Cic. Balb. 23, 53.

sometimes written MASSO. the name of a patrician family of the Papiria gens.

1. L. Papirius Maso, apparently the first person of this name who obtained any of the offices of the state, was aedile about B. C. 312. From Cicero calling him aedilicius, we learn that he did not obtain any higher dignity. (Cic. Fam. 9.21; comp. Pighius, Ann. vol. i p. 363.)

2. C. Papirius Maso, C. F. L. N., consul with M. Pomponius Matho in B. C. 231, carried on war against the Corsicans, whom he subdued, though not without considerable loss. The senate refused him a triumph, and he accordingly celebrated one on the Alban mount. It was the first time that this was ever done, and the example thus set was frequently followed by subsequent generals, when they considered themselves entitled to a triumph, but were refused the honour by the senate. It is related of Maso, that he always wore a myrtle crown instead of a laurel one, when he was present at the games of the Circus; and Paulus Diaconus gives as the reason for his doing so, that he conquered the Corsicans in the " Myrtle Plains," Myrtei Campi. (Zonar. 8.18. p. 401; Fasti Capitol.; Plin. Nat. 15.29. s. 38; V. Max. 3.6.5; Paul. Diac. p. 144, ed. Müller) From the booty obtained in Corsica, Maso dedicated a temple of Fons. (Cic. de Nat. Deor. 3.20.) He was one of the pontifices, and died in B. C. 213. (Liv. 25.2.) Maso was the maternal grandfather of Scipio Africanus the younger, his daughter Papiria marrying Aemilius Paullus, the conqueror of Macedonia. (Plut. Aemil. Paull. 5; Plin. i. c.)

3. C. Papirius Maso, was, according to some annals, one of the triumviri for founding the colonies of Placentia and Cremona, in Cisalpine Gaul, in B. C. 218. (Liv. 21.25.) Asconius (in Cic. Pis. p. 3, ed. Orell.) calls him P. Papirius Mas,. He may be the same as the consul [No. 2] or the decemvir sacrorum mentioned below. [No. 4.]

4. C. Papirius Maso, L. F., one of the decemviri sacrorum, died in B. C. 21 3. (Liv. 25.2.)

5. L. Papirius Maso, praetor urbanus B. C. 176. (Liv. 41.14, 15.) He may have been the L. Papirius, praetor, who is said to have decided, in consequence of the uncertainty of the time of a woman's gestation, that a child born within thirteen months after copulation could be the heres. (Plin. I. N. 7.5. s. 4.)

6. I. Papirius Maso, disinherited his brother (frater), Aelius Ligur, tribune of the plebs B. C. 57. (Cic. pro Dom. 19, ad Att. 5.4.) This M. Papirius Maso may be the same as the M. Papirius, a Roman knight and a friend of Pompey, who was slain by P. Clodius on the Appian Way. (Cic. pro Mil. 7; Ascon. in Cic. Mil. p. 48; Schol. Bob. pro Mil. p. 284, ed. Orelli.)

7. C. Papirius Maso, was accused of repe tundae by T. Coponius, of Tibur, and condemned. [Coponius, No. 1.] (Cic. pro Balb. 21.)