Lucius Publilius Celsus (executed 118) was a Roman senator as well as a confidant of the emperor Trajan.
[2] Dio Cassius records the fact that Celsus was one of three men the emperor Trajan honored during their lives with statues, the other two men being Aulus Cornelius Palma Frontonianus and Quintus Sosius Senecio,[3] which attests to his importance.
Anthony Birley suggests that he accompanied Trajan on the latter's expedition against the Parthians.
[4] Upon the death of Trajan, his power and influence was such that Trajan's successor, Hadrian, felt threatened and had him executed along with Cornelius Palma in 118;[5] the account in the Augustan History adds two more men to those Hadrian ordered executed, Lusius Quietus and Gaius Avidius Nigrinus.
Ronald Syme opines that the statue and other known details imply he held a consular military command.