Praefectus Fabrum
58 to 50
(Broughton MRR III)
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Praefectus fabrum under Caesar in Gaul (58-50) and perhaps with him in subsequent years, a Roman eques. From Formiae, wealthy and notorious for his display, prodigality, and outrageous conduct (Plin. NH 36.48 from Nepos; cf. Catull. 29, 41, 43, 57; Hor. Sat. 1.5.37; Suet. Iul. 73; Cic. Att. 7.7.6, 13.52; and see C. Nicolet, Ordre equestre 2.940-941, no. 219). Mention in Catull. 29 of praeda Pontica, inde tertia Hibera suggests that he had seen service in the East under Pompey in the Third Mithridatic War, and later service with Caesar during his command in Hisp. Ult. In 61-60, but W. C. McDermott offers the interpretation that the mention of praeda refers rather to the fortunes made by Mamurra as a business man active in the purchase and sale of booty before he became Caesar’s prefect (RhM 126, 1983. 293-307; cf. Maid 35, 1983, 13-14).
The occurrence of the name M. Vitruvius Mamurra at Thibilis in Africa (ILS 5566), the fact that Mamurra and the author of the De Architectura were near contemporaries, and also that the author, who had travelled widely, had associations with Julius Caesar and Augustus over a considerable period, led P. Thielscher in an extended discussion to the conclusion that Mamurra and Vitruvius were one and the same person (RE 9A.417-489). In an equally detailed response P. Ruffel and J. Soubiran (“Vitruve ou Mamurra?” Pallas 11, 1962, 123-179) point to the variety of cognomina found with the gentilicium Vitruvius, and the indication in one ancient authority, Cetius Faventinus, that his name may have been Vitruvius Pollio (pp. 130, 145). The details of the careers, they find, match in time, but never impinge upon each other (143-159). There is no evidence that Vitruvius was an eques or held a prefectship; and, if they were the same, it is strange that Pliny, who knew about both (Vitruvius is listed among his authorities for Book 36 of the Naturalis Historia), gives no hint that he thought so. Moreover, Vitruvius’ own remarks in the prefaces to the books of the De Architectura present a humane person, modest in status and possessions, in spirit and aims, but devoted to his subject, who is quite inconsistent with what our sources present in Mamurra. On Mamurra, see J. Suolahti, Junior Officers 216, 266-267, 324, 371, 406. Note also R. E. A. Palmer, “On the Track of the Ignoble,” Athenaeum 61, 1983, 343-361, presenting the possibility that they were relatives. Vitruvius was known to Frontinus (Aq. 25) simply as Vitruvium architectum who had probably worked under Agrippa. (Broughton MRR III)