Publius Cornelius Lentulus, nicknamed
Spinther because of his likeness to a popular actor of that name, came from an ancient Roman
patrician family of the
Cornelia gens. Although treated with great favour by
Julius Caesar, Spinther eventually came to support the aristocratic senatorial cause of Caesar's great rival
Pompeius Magnus and to align himself with the
Optimates party. This proved an unwise move that would eventually lead to his political destruction and perhaps to his death.