The gens Antistia, sometimes written Antestia on coins, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. The first of the gens to achieve prominence was Sextus Antistius, tribune of the plebs in 422 BC. Origin Tradition indicates that the Antistii came to Rome from Gabii, an ancient Latin town a short distance east of Rome. According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, a certain Antistius Petro of Gabii concluded a treaty with Rome in the time of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the seventh and last King of Rome. Moreover, a legendary genealogy may be adduced from the Alban king Amulius, uncle of Romulus and Remus, and father of Antho (Greek for "flower"), who seems to have been claimed as the origin of the name Antistius. Praenomina The oldest families of the Antistii used the praenomina Sextus, Aulus, Lucius, and Marcus. In the later Republic, members of the gens also used Publius, Titus, and Gaius. The Antistii Veteres used primarily Gaius and Lucius. One Quintus appears in the imperial era. Branches and cognomina In the earlier ages of the Republic, none of the members of the gens appear with any surname, and even in later times they are sometimes mentioned without one. The surnames under the Republic are Gragulus, Labeo, Reginus, and Vetus. The last of these, the Antistii Veteres, were the greatest of the Antistii. In 29 BC, Octavian elevated this family to the patriciate. They held several consulships from the time of Augustus to that of Antoninus Pius. Gragulus refers to a jackdaw ( in Latin), which is displayed on the bronze coins of the only known Antestius with this cognomen. Members Antistius Petro of Gabii, said to have concluded a treaty with Rome in 510 BC, during the reign of Tarquin the Proud. Sextus Antistius, tribune of the plebs in 422 BC. Aulus Antistius, tribune of the plebs in 420 BC. Lucius Antestius, consular tribune in 379 BC. Marcus Antistius, tribune of the plebs circa 320 BC. Marcus Antistius, sent in 218 BC to the north of Italy to recall Gaius Flaminius, the consul elect, to Rome. Possibly fictitious. Lucius Antistius, legate sent to Sicily in 215 BC. Sextus Antistius, sent in 208 BC into Gaul to watch the movements of Hasdrubal. Gaius Antestius, triumvir monetalis in 146 BC. His coins feature a puppy, which, according to Crawford, might have stood for the surname Catulus. Antistia, wife of Appius Claudius Pulcher, and