Dionysia (1st-century BC), was an ancient Roman dancer-actress. Dionysia was evidently a famous stage artist in Ancient Rome, as her name was known enough to be used in public debate. She is one of few female stage artists from antiquity of which there is specific sums of a notably great income, an example used in research that elite actresses in Ancient Rome could earn great amounts on their career. In 66 BC, in his speech in favour of Quintus Roscius,

Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, and academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the estab ...

noted that the famous dancer Dionysia earns 200.000

sestertius The ''sestertius'' (plural ''sestertii''), or sesterce (plural sesterces), was an Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Roman currency, coin. During the Roman Republic it was a small, silver coin issued only on rare occasions. During the Roman Empire it w ...

, which he appears to assume to be a well known fact. In the critic against the orator

Hortensius Quintus Hortensius Hortalus (114–50 BC) was a famous Roman lawyer, a renowned orator and a statesman. Politically he belonged to the Optimates. He was consul in 69 BC alongside Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus. His nickname was ''Dionysia'', ...

in 62 BC, his gestures are mockingly compared to that of an actress, Dionysia.

References

* E. Togo Salmon Conference, E. Togo Salmon Conference 1993 Mcmaster University,
Roman Theater and Society: E. Togo Salmon Papers I
' * Pat Easterling, Edith Hall:
Greek and Roman Actors: Aspects of an Ancient Profession
' Ancient actresses 1st-century BC Roman women 1st-century BC Romans Ancient Roman actors Ancient Roman theatre practitioners Ancient Roman dancers