TWO FRIENDS OF PLUTARCH
I. M. Pacuius Optatus
Several Delphic inscriptions mention, as a councillor and archno of the city, a certain Μ. Πακούιος Όπτατος : the nomen once appears as Πακόϊος1. Although modern texts invariably refer to him as "M. Pacuvius Optatus"2, the orthography of the inscriptions is decisive in favour of Paquius or Pacuius, both of which are attested as by-forms of Pacuviusz.
A recently published inscription from Corinth has revealed a family of M. Pacuii there4. The rarity of the names Paquius and Pacuius, and the coincidence of the praenomen Marcus, make a connection between the Corinthian family and the Delphic official almost certain. His name will therefore be "M. Pacuius Optatus". A Delphic inscription of the early second century also shows a Πακουία Φορτυνατα married to a Babbius Magnus: since the rare name "Babbius" is likewise held by prominent citizens of Corinth, it is probable that both husband and wife are from there5. Pacuia Fortunata is probably related to Pacuius Optatus, and Optatus might be one of the M. Pacuii on the inscription from Corintli.
Another Optatus needs to be considered, a friend of Plutarch who
(1) Πακούιος : FD III, 4, 81-2, 89. Πακόϊος : FD III, 3, 245. The spelling is uncertain, but restored as Πακούιος, in FD III, 1, 332; 4, 47, 87, 117, and in FD III, 4, 106 as re-edited by Cl. Vatin, BCH 94 (1970), p. 685-686. · (2) Notably A. Stein in his article on him, RE XVIII (1942), col. 2176 n» 10. (3) E. Vetteh, RE XVIII (1942), col. 2157-2158. At so late a date, -ούιος could not represent -uvius : G. Dittenberger, Hermes 6 (1872), p. 304-305, Th. Eckinger, Die orthographie laleinischer Wôrter in griechischen Inschriflen, diss. Zurich (1892), p. 77 n° 11. In any case, some of the same inscriptions also show an Άβίδιος = Avidius, FD III, 3, 245; 4, 81-2. (4) J. H. Kent, Corinth, Volume VIII, Part III: The Inscriptions 1926-1950 (1966), p. 80, n° 175. Kent's restorations may be accepted except for "[M. Pacuvio]" in line 1 (there is no reason to think the honorand related to the dedicators) and "M. Pacuy[i f.]" in line 7: the photograph (Plate 16) is consistent with "M. Pacuifus]". (5) FD III, 1, 539 {SylL* 825 D). On "Babbius" at Corinth, L. Robert, Hellenica II (1946), p. 9 ; Kent, op. cit., Index, s. v. "Babbius".
