The gens Pontia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens rose to prominence in the time of the Republic, but the Pontii flourished under the Empire, eventually attaining the consulship. Pontius Pilatus, as prefect of Judaea, is known for his role in the execution of Jesus. Origin The Pontii were of Samnite origin, and are first mentioned in connection with the Samnite Wars, after which some of them removed to Rome. Their nomen, Pontius, is a patronymic surname derived from the Oscan praenomen Pontus or Pomptus, cognate with the Latin praenomen Quintus. Thus, Pontius is the Samnite equivalent of the Roman gentes Quinctia and Quinctilia. Alternatively, it may be connected to the Latin word (bridge) and mean "bridge builder". Branches and cognomina The only surname borne by the Pontii of the Republic is Aquila, an eagle. Various cognomina are found in imperial times. Members Pontius Cominius, a young soldier who volunteered to convey a message from the army to the senate, following the Battle of the Allia, when the Capitol was besieged by the Gauls. Floating down the river on some driftwood until he reached the Capitol, he asked that Marcus Furius Camillus, who was then in exile, be nominated dictator. Herennius Pontius, an aged resident of Caudium at the time of the Roman surrender in 321 BC, who advised the victorious Samnites either to release the Romans unharmed, or put them to the sword, concluding that imposing terms of peace on a conquered army would only lead the Romans to return seeking revenge. Gaius Pontius Herenni f., the Samnite leader who engineered the entrapment of a Roman army at the Caudine Forks in 321 BC. In Roman literary tradition, he imposed peace terms on the defeated army against his father's advice, and was later himself captured and beheaded by the Romans in revenge, but this is thought to be ahistorical. Pontius, a friend of Scipio Aemilianus. Pontius Telesinus, a Samnite leader during the Social War, and an opponent of Sulla during the Roman civil war of 82 BC. He attempted to raise Sulla's siege of Praeneste, but was defeated and killed at the Battle of the Colline Gate. Pontius Telesinus, younger brother of the Samnite leader, was besieged at Praeneste by Sulla. He attempted to arrange the escape of Marius the Younger, but finding their passage guarded, they fell by their own hands. Titus