Explanation: One of the more prominent generals involved in campaigns in Germania was named Germanicus. This is curious - Romans usually gave celebratory names to leaders involved in successful campaigns, such as ‘Parthicus’ for someone who defeated the Parthians, or ‘Germanicus’ for someone who defeated the Germans.
The curious bit is that the man we usually refer to as Germanicus actually inherited his name from his father (not very creative with names, the Romans), who gained the name while campaigning in Germany. So our, more well-known ‘Germanicus’ was Germanicus even before he ever set foot in Germania! Like father like son, huh?
Explanation: One of the more prominent generals involved in campaigns in Germania was named Germanicus. This is curious - Romans usually gave celebratory names to leaders involved in successful campaigns, such as ‘Parthicus’ for someone who defeated the Parthians, or ‘Germanicus’ for someone who defeated the Germans.
The curious bit is that the man we usually refer to as Germanicus actually inherited his name from his father (not very creative with names, the Romans), who gained the name while campaigning in Germany. So our, more well-known ‘Germanicus’ was Germanicus even before he ever set foot in Germania! Like father like son, huh?
Now that’s some nominative determinism alright
Nomen omen
est
I love all the tidbits you give us. I store it in the dryer filter of my mind with all my other mental lint.