Curtius

Curtius is a Roman nomen shared by several notables.

• Curtius Montanus[?]
• Curtius Rufus[?], legate ca 47, proconsul
• Quintus Curtius Rufus[?], historian

The name is also shared by several modern personages.

• Ernst Curtius[?], archaeologist, historian
• Ernest Robert Curtius[?], scholar
• Friedrich Curtius[?], internist
• Theodor Curtius[?], chemist

(move below to Lacus Curtius[?])?

In Roman mythology, Curtius was Marcus Curtius. In 445 BC, lightning struck near the Forum Romanum. The hole it created was called the Lacus Curtius[?]. An oracle claimed the hole, which severely disrupted the business at the Forum, could be closed by the most precious thing Rome had. Curtius, dressed in full armor and riding a fine horse, jumped into the hole, which then disappeared.

Livy VII, 6.

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Alternately, the Lacus was named after Mettius Curtius, a Sabine horseman who rode into or fell into it while fighting against Romulus.

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Still another version has it that Caius Curtius, a consul of 445 BC, consecrated the site after the lightning strike.

• Lacus Curtius article (http://www.livius.org/la-ld/lacus_curtius/lacus_curtius.html)

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Curtius is a crater on the Moon.