the renowned historian Sir Ronald Syme did explore the possibility that the historian Tacitus and the jurist Neratius Priscus might be the same person, or at least closely linked, suggesting a deliberate obfuscation of identities in Roman history, often connecting Tacitus with figures like Cornelius Palma, though Neratius Priscus (a suffect consul in 97 AD) served alongside or near Tacitus's career, making the link a complex area of study Syme investigated to understand Tacitus's elusive identity. Key Points:Tacitus's Elusive Identity: The historian Tacitus (Publius Cornelius Tacitus) is a shadowy figure, with uncertainties about his first name, birthplace, and precise date of birth.Neratius Priscus: This prominent jurist and senator served as suffect consul in 97 AD, a time when Tacitus was active in politics, notes www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Neratius_Priscus.Syme's Theory: Syme's research suggested that Tacitus might have used other names or that historical records obscured his true identity, exploring connections with figures like Neratius Priscus and Cornelius Palma to piece together Tacitus's life.Complexity of Roman Names: Syme highlighted how Roman naming conventions and deliberate facades in historical records could make identifying figures difficult, requiring meticulous cross-referencing of names, titles, and consular lists.
