person
Marcilius
Marcilius (the father)
also: Marcili, patris Marcili
Cicero's friend and interpreter (interpres) during his Cilician proconsulship (51-50 BC), of singular and almost incredible loyalty, restraint and modesty, noted through his long term of attendance (apparitio). Father of M. Marcilius, on whose behalf Cicero wrote Fam. 13.54 to Q. Minucius Thermus.
Reading notes
- Ad Familiares 13.54 §1 the son of my friend and interpreter
An interpres was an official interpreter attached to a provincial governor's staff, indispensable in Greek-speaking and multilingual provinces. The elder Marcilius served Cicero in this role during his Cilician proconsulship; Cicero recommends his son M. Marcilius.
- Ad Familiares 13.54 §1 in his long term of attendance
Apparitio is the formal service of an apparitor or staff-attendant to a Roman magistrate. Cicero's praise of the elder Marcilius's loyalty, restraint (abstinentia) and modesty is the language of an ideal subordinate official.