Murena

Murena is a name (cognomen) used by a Roman plebeian family from Lanuvium belonging to the gens Licinia. It is supposed to be derived from the fondness of a family member for lampreys (murenae).

The most prominent members of the family were Lucius Licinius Murena, who was defended by Cicero in 62 BC against a charge of bribery in the extant speech Pro Murena, and his father of the same name who was defeated by Mithridates in Asia in 81 BC.