Obsidius

• a Roman surname, Flor. 1, 18, 7.

1. The commander of a Frentanian troop of horse, serving under the consul Laevinus in the campaign against Pyrrhus B. C. 280, distinguished himself in the battle fought at the river Siris in that year, by the daring attempt which he made upon the king's life. He unhorsed Pyrrhus, but was killed by the personal attendants of the king. He is called Oplacus (Ὄπλακος) in Plutarch, Oblacus Vulsinius (Ὄβλακος Οὐλσίνιος) in Dionysius, but Obsidius in Florus. (Flor. 1.18.7; Plut. Pyrrh. 16; Dionys. A. R. 18.2-4.)

2. Discovered in Aethiopia the stone which was named after him Obsidianus (Plin. Nat. 36.26.67). The name Obsidius Rufus occurs in inscriptions, but is not mentioned elsewhere.