Vennonius

• a Roman historian whose works are lost, Cic. Att. 12, 391; id. Leg. 1, 2, 6.

or Veno'nius. In the enumeration of ancient Roman historians given by Cicero (de Leg. 1.2, comp. ad Att. 12.3) Vennonius is placed immediately after Fannius, and he is mentioned by Dionysius in connection with Fabius and Cato. The name does not occur in any other classical work except in the tract Origo Gentis Romanae, falsely ascribed to Sex. Aurelius Victor [Victor]. We know nothing regarding the life of Vennonius, nor are we acquainted with the title of his book, nor can we determine what period it embraced. We merely gather from Cicero that he composed in Latin, and that his writings were not less meagre than those of other early annalists. (Krause, Vitae et Fragmenta veterum Historicorum Romanorum, 8vo. Berolin. 1833; Orelli, Onomusticon Tullianum s. v. Vennonius.) [W.R]

A few other persons of the name are mentioned by Cicero.

1. SEX. VENNONIUS, one of the instruments of Verres in oppressing the Sicilians. (Cic. Ver. 3.39.)

2. C. Vennonius, a negotiator or money lender in Cilicia, was a friend of Cicero, who nevertheless refused him a praefectura which he solicited (ad Att. 6.1.25, 6.3.5, comp. ad Fam. 13.72).

3. Vennonius Vindicius, mentioned by Cicero in his oration for Balbus (100.25).