Numerius Fabius Pictor ( 160–150 BC) was a Roman antiquarian. To him are usually attributed a history of Rome written in Latin, as well as a commentary on Roman pontifical law, neither of which have survived.

Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises tha ...

described him as an expert in law, literature, and history, as well as a notable orator in his own right. Numerius, born around 188 BC, was probably a grandson of

Quintus Fabius Pictor Quintus Fabius Pictor (born BC, BC) was the earliest known Roman historian. His history, written in Greek and now mostly lost besides some surviving fragments, was highly influential on ancient writers and certainly participated in introducing Gre ...

, the first Roman historian. Münzer and Frier both hold that he held the

pontificate The pontificate is the form of government used in Vatican City. The word came to English from French and simply means ''papacy'', or "to perform the functions of the Pope or other high official in the Church". Since there is only one bishop of Ro ...

during the 150s BC, and his literary activity will presumably date from then onward. The precise nature of his now-lost Latin history has long been controversial: some modern authors argue that it was simply a revision of the Greek history of his ancestor Quintus Pictor, while others contend that it was an independent historical work in its own right. He seems to have had a son, also called Numerius Fabius Pictor, a mint officer who issued coins in 126 BC.

References

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fabius Pictor, Numerius 2nd-century BC Romans Pictor, Numerius Latin writers known only from secondary sources Ancient Roman antiquarians Ancient Roman patricians Pontifices 180s BC births Year of birth uncertain Year of death unknown