Atia (gens)
The gens Atia, sometimes written Attia, was a plebeian family at Rome. The first of the gens to achieve prominence was Lucius Atius, a military tribune in 178 BC. Several of the Atii served in the Civil War between Caesar and Pompeius. The gens Attia may be identical with this family, although the individuals known by that name lived nearly a century after the more notable Atii, and are not known to have been related.
Origin
The gens does not appear to have been of any great antiquity, and none of its members ever attained the consulship; but, since Augustus was connected with it on his mother's side, the flattery of the poets derived its origin from Atys, the son of Alba, and father of Capys. Atys was the sixth king of Alba Longa, an ancient city in Latium, traditionally founded by Ascanius, the son of Aeneas, and the mother city of Rome.
Praenomina
The Atii are known to have used several of the most common praenomina at Rome, including Lucius, Marcus, Gaius, Publius, and Quintus.
