Caecina Paetus
Encyclopedia
Caecina Paetus was condemned to death on a charge of disloyalty by the emperor Claudius
in 42 AD. He chose to commit suicide rather than face the emperor's wrath. His wife Arria
stabbed herself first in order to give him the courage to do this and handed him the dagger saying "Non dolet, Paete!" ("It doesn't hurt, Paetus").
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
in 42 AD. He chose to commit suicide rather than face the emperor's wrath. His wife Arria
Arria
Arria was a woman in ancient Rome. Her husband Caecina Paetus was ordered by the emperor Claudius to commit suicide for his part in a rebellion but was not capable of forcing himself to do so. Arria wrenched the dagger from him and stabbed herself, then returned it to her husband, telling him that...
stabbed herself first in order to give him the courage to do this and handed him the dagger saying "Non dolet, Paete!" ("It doesn't hurt, Paetus").