person
Cornicinus
also: Cornicinus
A senatorial ally of the tribune Serranus in the house-restitution debate of October 57 BC; to win Serranus a night's delay he theatrically threw off his toga and flung himself at his son-in-law's feet (Att. 4.2.4). Identity otherwise obscure; the nickname suggests a 'horn-blower'.
Reading notes
- Ad Atticum 4.2 §4 throwing off his toga, he cast himself at his son-in-law's feet
A theatrical gesture of supplication: Cornicinus dramatised entreaty by stripping to his tunic and falling at Serranus's feet to win him a delay. Cicero scorns it as a stale piece of stagecraft ('his old play').