Gaius Ateius Capito (jurist)

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Gaius Ateius Capito (about 30 BCE – 22 CE) was a famous Roman jurist and senator under Augustus and Tiberius. In 5 CE he served as consul suffectus from July to December, alongside Gaius Vibius Postumus. He was the son of a tribune with the same name and studied law with Aulus Ofilius. Capito worked as a jurist and senator, and he supported the power of the princeps, which put him at odds with the jurist Marcus Antistius Labeo. In 11 CE he became curator aquarum, in charge of Rome’s water supply. About four years later, Tiberius and Lucius Arruntius asked him to help plan how to confine the Tiber after floods, but the plan was blocked by popular resistance. He witnessed several important legal acts, including a senatus consultum that banned Senators, equites, and their descendants from gladiatorial fights, and he was one of seven witnesses for the Senatus consultum de Cn. Pisone patre, regarding Piso’s trial in 20 CE. His successor as curator aquarum was Tarius Rufus. Capito apparently had no known descendants, though some speculated he adopted Capito Aelianus, the son of Sejanus. His own writings are lost and known only by titles quoted by later authors. He was highly respected and founded a school of jurists that became the Sabinian school, named after his pupil Masurius Sabinus. His works were read and quoted for centuries, especially by lexicographers like Festus and Gellius.