Coponius

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Graecized Κωπώνιος ), the first Roman procurator of Judaea, established by Augustus after the banishment of Archelaus (Josephus, War, 2:8, 1), A.D. 6. He was of the equestrian order (Josephus, Ant. 18:1, 1), and was succeeded by M. Ambivus (ib. 2, 2), A.D. 9. He was probably the same person as Caius Coponius, a praetor, who, having espoused the cause of Pompey, narrowly escaped execution by the triumvirs (Appian, Bell. Civ. 3. 40), but was afterwards held in great respect (Veil. Pat. 2:83), and seems to have held an office in the imperial mint. Smith's Dict. of Class. Biog . s.v.