Patrobius

• a freedman of the emperor Nero, Plin. 35, 13, 47, § 168; Suet. Galb. 20.

surnamed Neronianus, one of Nero's favourite freedmen, presided at the games which this emperor exhibited to Teridates at Puteoli. He was put to death by Galba on his accession to the throne in A. D. 68, after being previously led in chains through the city along with the other instruments of Nero's cruelty. On the murder of Galba shortly afterwards, a freedman of Patrobius purchased the head of this emperor for a hundred aurei, and threw it away on the spot where his master had been put to death. (D. C. 63.3, 64.3; suet. Galb. 20; Tac. Hist. 1.49, 2.95.) Pliny speaks (H. N. 35.13. s. 47) of Patrobius introducing into Italy the fine sand of the Nile for the muse of thle palaestra, a circumstance to which Suetonius refers in his life of Nero (100.45).