page_title: Aulus Manlius Torquatus Atticus
section_title: Second consulship (241 BC)
hierarchical_section_title: Aulus Manlius Torquatus Atticus / Political career / Second consulship (241 BC)
caption_attribution_description: Nero. 54-68 AD. :Sestertius (Orichalcum, 25.32 g 7), Lugdunum, 65. ::: PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT S C Temple of Janus with ornate roof decoration, latticed window on the left and with a garland hung across the closed double doors to the right. :BNC 319. BN 73. Cohen 146. RIC 438. WCN 419. :A fine and clear example with a smooth brown patina, a good portrait and a detailed view of the temple of Janus. :Extremely fine. :From the Patrick H. C. Tan Collection.
context_page_description: Aulus Manlius Torquatus Atticus was a politician during the Roman Republic. Born into the prominent patrician family of the Manlii Torquati, he had a distinguished career, becoming censor in 247 BC, then twice consul in 244 and 241 BC, and possibly princeps senatus in 220 BC. Despite these prestigious magistracies, little is known on his life. He was a commander who served during the First Punic War, and might have pushed for the continuation of the war even after Carthage had sued for peace following the Roman victory at the Aegate Islands in 241 BC. The same year, he suppressed the revolt of the Faliscans in central Italy, for which he was awarded a triumph. At this occasion, he may have introduced the cult of Juno Curitis at Rome.
context_section_description: Atticus was elected consul a second time in 241, alongside the plebeian Quintus Lutatius Cerco.  The latter was the brother of Gaius Lutatius Catulus who won the Battle of the Aegate Islands at the end of his consulship, on 10 March 241 (magistrates took office on 1 May at that time).  Cassiodorus and Eutropius (who also relied on Livy) tell that Cerco was the consul prior and Atticus posterior, but in the Fasti Capitolini Atticus was moved to first place.  The Fasti were made under Augustus by the College of Pontiffs, whose members often moved their ancestors to first place in order to enhance the prestige of their family—a policy supported by Augustus who tried to revive several prominent patrician families—since being elected prior was the subject of great pride.  The Augustan pontiff Aulus Manlius Torquatus was thus responsible for the promotion of Atticus in the Fasti, as well as several other members of his family.
  Zonaras tells that Catulus made a first treaty with Hamilcar after his victory, a few days before the end of his consulship, so he could be the one who ended the war.  However, he and Polybius add that the "people of Rome" rejected the treaty, so his brother Cerco negotiated harsher terms upon Carthage after he entered office.  Adam Ziolkowski thinks that "the people" in fact showed its opposition by electing a consul who was against the treaty of Catulus; since Cerco could not have contradicted his brother, it means that the opposition came from Atticus, who wished to continue the war.  Nevertheless, Atticus had to give way and accept making peace, but obtained additional clauses in the new treaty.  This compromise might still have been considered too lenient towards Carthage by a faction in the senate, hence why Rome took Sardinia a few years later.  Incidentally, Sardinia was conquered by Atticus' nephew Titus Manlius Torquatus in 235.
  
  Cerco's and Atticus' consulship was marked by natural disasters in Rome, which according to Orosius "almost destroyed the City".  He adds that the Tiber river overflowed and crushed all the buildings located in the plain. This flood was particularly devastating because at this time most buildings were made in wood and clay, which are vulnerable to water.  A major fire also ravaged the Temple of Vesta and most of the area around the Forum.  The Pontifex Maximus—Lucius Caecilius Metellus—almost died while trying to save the palladium from the burning temple.  Ancient authors tell that the Faliscans—an Italic people living in Southern Etruria—revolted in order to take advantage of the situation.  The real cause is more probably the expiration of a 50-year treaty concluded in 293.  E. S. Staveley even considers that this war was part of a deliberate strategy from Rome to tighten its control of Etruria.  He notes that the censors of 241 built the Via Aurelia which went northwards from Rome to Pisa and founded colonies in the area.
  According to Zonaras, Atticus had some difficulties overcoming the Faliscans in his first battle against them, as they defeated his infantry; the cavalry nonetheless saved the situation.  He had a better result in the second battle, which ended the campaign after only six days.  The consuls seized the Faliscans' horses, slaves, arms, half of their territory and displaced their capital of Falerii to a defenceless location at Falerii Novii.  Zonaras' account describes Atticus as sole commander, but Cerco and Atticus were both awarded a triumph for the victory, respectively celebrated on 1 and 4 March 240.  The two consuls are also named together on a Faliscan bronze breastplate with an inscription saying "captured at Falerii" (as booty).  The patron-goddess of Falerii was Iuno Curritis, whom Atticus brought to Rome by founding a temple dedicated to her on the Campus Martius (its exact location is still unknown), while Cerco founded the Temple of Fortuna Publica on the Quirinal Hill.  Both consuls were likely fulfilling a vow to these goddesses that they had made on the battlefield. 
  Several ancient authors tell that Atticus' nephew—Titus Torquatus—c
caption: Reverse of a sestertius of Nero, circa AD 65, showing the Temple of Janus with its gates closed.[62]
exif: {}