Ummidia Quadratilla
Encyclopedia
Ummidia Quadratilla, was a wealthy Roman woman
and was a member of the gens Ummidia
. She died in the reign of Emperor Trajan
(98-117) within a little of eighty years of age, leaving two-thirds (ex besse) of her fortune to her grandson and the other third to her granddaughter (Pliny the Younger
Ep. vii. 24). Her grandson Ummidius Quadratus was an intimate friend of Roman Senator and historian Pliny the Younger
, who praises her for fostering Quadratus' studies while keeping him untouched by her own luxurious lifestyle.
Quadratilla was probably a sister of Gaius Ummidius Durmius Quadratus, the governor of Syria
, who died in 60
, and appears to be the same as the Quadratilla mentioned in the following inscription, discovered at Casinum in Lazio: "Ummidia CF Quadratilla amphiheatrum et templum Casinatibus sua pecunia fecit" (Orelli
, Inscr. No. 781). It seems that the Ummidii came originally from Casinum
.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
and was a member of the gens Ummidia
Ummidia (gens)
The gens Ummidia was a Roman family which flourished during the 1st and 2nd centuries. The first member of the gens to achieve prominence was Gaius Ummidius Durmius Quadratus, governor of Syria during the reigns of Claudius and Nero...
. She died in the reign of Emperor Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
(98-117) within a little of eighty years of age, leaving two-thirds (ex besse) of her fortune to her grandson and the other third to her granddaughter (Pliny the Younger
Pliny the Younger
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, born Gaius Caecilius or Gaius Caecilius Cilo , better known as Pliny the Younger, was a lawyer, author, and magistrate of Ancient Rome. Pliny's uncle, Pliny the Elder, helped raise and educate him...
Ep. vii. 24). Her grandson Ummidius Quadratus was an intimate friend of Roman Senator and historian Pliny the Younger
Pliny the Younger
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, born Gaius Caecilius or Gaius Caecilius Cilo , better known as Pliny the Younger, was a lawyer, author, and magistrate of Ancient Rome. Pliny's uncle, Pliny the Elder, helped raise and educate him...
, who praises her for fostering Quadratus' studies while keeping him untouched by her own luxurious lifestyle.
Quadratilla was probably a sister of Gaius Ummidius Durmius Quadratus, the governor of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, who died in 60
60
Year 60 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Afer...
, and appears to be the same as the Quadratilla mentioned in the following inscription, discovered at Casinum in Lazio: "Ummidia CF Quadratilla amphiheatrum et templum Casinatibus sua pecunia fecit" (Orelli
Johann Caspar von Orelli
Johann Caspar von Orelli , was a Swiss classical scholar.He was born at Zürich of a distinguished Italian family which had taken refuge in Switzerland at the time of the Protestant Reformation...
, Inscr. No. 781). It seems that the Ummidii came originally from Casinum
Casinum
Casinum was an ancient town of Italy, probably of Volscian origin. Varro states that the name was Sabine, and meant forum vetus, and also that the town itself was Samnite, but he is probably wrong. When it came under Roman supremacy is not known, but it probably received the citizenship in 188 BC...
.