[2] The third element in his name, "Ambibulus", is a cognomen Ronald Syme describes as "peculiar and uncommon"; he could only count five examples of its use in inscriptions found at Rome, and one more in North Africa.
Edmund Groag suggested that the last three elements in his name may be due to a testamentary adoption by the suffect consul of the year 98, Lucius Maecius Postumus.
The inscription records he was sevir equitum Romanorum of the annual review of the equites at Rome, then he was adlected inter patricios—into the patrician order.
The reason for Ambibulus' admission to this highest stratum of Roman society is unknown, but it is only the first instance of favor shown to him by the emperor Trajan.
After serving as legatus or assistant to the governor of Macedonia, as a patrician Ambibulus was excused from the next Republican magistracy and was the emperor's candidate for praetor.