Tricostus

the name of an ancient family of the Virginia gens. Almost all the members of the Virginia gens belonged to this family, which became so extensive that it was subdivided into other families bearing the names of Caeliomontanus, Esquilinus, and Rutilus. The two former are spoken of under their respective names, and it therefore only remains to treat here of the Tricosti, who had no additional name, and of the Tricosti Rutili.

1. Opiter Virginius Tricostus, consul B. C. 502 with Sp. Cassius Viscellinus, carried on war against the Aurunci and took Pometia, in consequence of which he and his colleague obtained a triumph. (Liv. 2.17; Dionys. A. R. 5.49.)

2. Opiter Virginius (Tricostus), consul B. C. 473 with L. Aemilius Mamercus, according to Livy (2.54); but other authorities give Vopiscus Julius Julus in place of Virginius. [Julus, No. 3]

3. L. Virginius Tricostus, consul B. C. 435 with C. Julius Julus. (Liv. 4.21; Diod. 12.49.) Respecting the events of this year, see Julus, No. 4. Virginius and Julius were again consuls in the following year, according to Licinius Macer ; but other authorities mentioned M. Manlius and Q. Sulpicius as consuls, and others again relate that there were no consuls but consular tribunes this year. (Liv. 4.23.)

4. L. Virginius Tricostus, consular tribune B. C. 389, the year after Rome had been taken by the Gauls. (Liv. 6.1.)

5. Proculus Virginius Tricostus Rutilus, consul B. C. 486 with Sp. Cassius Viscellinus, marched against the Aequi; but as they would not meet him in the field, he returned to Rome after laying waste their territory. He took an active part in opposing the agrarian law of his colleague. [Viscellinus.] (Liv. 2.41; Dionys, 8.68, 9.51.)

6. T. Virginius Tricostus Rutilus, T. F. T. N., consul B. C. 479 with K. Fabius Vibulanus, in which year the Fabia gens left Rome to carry on the war alone against Veii. (Liv. 2.48, 49 Dionys. A. R. 9.14.) This Virginius was augur, and died in 463 in the great pestilence which devastated Rome in that year. (Liv. 3.7.)

7. A. Virginius Rutilus, T. F. T. N., brother of No. 6, was consul in B. C. 476 with Sp. Servilius Priscus Structus. (Liv. 2.51 ; Dionys. A. R. 9.25.)