Pennus

• a Roman surname: T. Quinctius Pennus, Liv. 4, 26.

i. e. "sharp" (pennum antiqui acutum dicebant, Isid. Orig. 19.19), was a family-name in the Junia and Quinctia gentes. In the latter gens it always occurs with other surnames, under which the Quinctii with this cognomen are given [Capitolinus, Quinctus, Nos. 7, 8, 9 ; Cincinnatus, No. 3] : the Penni of the Junia gens are given below.

1. M. Junius Pennus, curule aedile, B. C. 205, and praetor urbanus, B. C. 201. (Liv. 29.11, 30.40, 31.4.)

2. M. Junius Pennus, M. F. M. N., son of No. 1, was praetor B. C. 172, and obtained Nearer Spain for his province. The reinforcements for his army, which he urgently demanded from the senate, did not arrive till he had togive upthe province to his successor. He was consul B. C. 167, with Q. Aelius Paetus, and obtained Pisae as his province. (Liv. xlii 9, 10, 18, 45.16, 17; Cic. Brut. 28; Fasti Capit.)

3. M. Junius Pennus, of No. 2, was tribune of the plebs, B. C. 126, in which year he brought forward a law for expelling all strangers or foreigners (peregrini)from Rome. This law was opposed by C. Gracchus, because the peregrini were of assistance to him in his struggle with the aristocracy, but it was carried notwithstanding. Pennus was afterwards elected to the aedileship, but died before obtaining any higher honour in the state. (Cic. Brut. 28, de Off. 3.11; Fest. s.v. Respublica.)