Lessico

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Claudio Publio Pulcro

Console romano, figlio di Appio Claudio Cieco. Sconfitto dai Cartaginesi nelle acque di Drepano (l’antico nome di Trapani) nel 249 aC durante la prima guerra punica, fu accusato d'empietà per non aver tenuto conto del responso reso dagli auspici prima della battaglia.

Publius Claudius Pulcher

Publius Claudius Pulcher (d 249/246 BC) (of the Claudii family) was a Roman general. He was the son of the famous Roman politician Appius Claudius Caudex (consul in 264 BC). He was the first of the Claudii to be given the cognomen Pulcher (handsome).

He was curule aedile in 253 BC and consul in 249. As consul he was given command of the Roman fleet during the First Punic War. He lost the Battle of Drepana against the Carthaginians, supposedly because he ignored a bad omen when the sacred chickens refused to eat. According to Valerius Maximus, Suetonius and Cicero, Claudius threw them into the sea, ut biberent, quando esse nollent (so that they might drink, since they refused to eat).

He was recalled to Rome and ordered to appoint a dictator; his nomination of his subordinate Marcus Claudius Glicia was overruled. He was tried for incompetence and impiety and was fined, and died soon afterwards, possibly by suicide. He was the father of Appius Claudius Pulcher consul in 212 BC.