Naevia gens

The gens Naevia, occasionally written Navia, was a plebeian or patrician family at ancient Rome.

Members of this gens are first mentioned at the time of the Second Punic War, but the first of the Naevii to obtain the consulship was Lucius Naevius Surdinus, in AD 30.

[1] The nomen Naevius is generally regarded as a patronymic surname derived from the praenomen Gnaeus, indicating a birthmark.

[6] Other Naevii bore the surnames Crista, Pollio, and Turpio, while Capella and Surdinus are found on coins.

[11] Capella refers to a she-goat, while Surdinus probably described someone who was deaf, hard of hearing, stubborn, or silent.

Denarius of Gaius Naevius Balbus, 79 BC. The obverse depicts Venus , the patron goddess of Sulla , while Victoria drives a triga on the reverse, alluding to Sulla's victory games.