Ummidia Quadratilla, was a wealthy
Roman woman and was a member of the
gens Ummidia. She died in the reign of Emperor
Trajan
Trajan ( ; la, Caesar Nerva Traianus; 18 September 539/11 August 117) was Roman emperor from 98 to 117. Officially declared ''optimus princeps'' ("best ruler") by the senate, Trajan is remembered as a successful soldier-emperor who presi ...
(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. 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.
Pliny also mentioned she kept Quadratus untouched by her extravagant lifestyle "not only out of love, but also out of respect". She did this as in her youth this luxurious lifestyle was common for her and similar families. However, under the new Roman empire, society had become stricter and it was best for Quadratus to not indulge in these luxuries if he is to pursue his career.
A. N. Sherwin-White
Adrian Nicholas Sherwin-White, FBA (10 August 1911 – 1November 1993) was a British academic and ancient historian. He was a fellow of St John's College, University of Oxford and President of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies. ...
. ''The letters of Pliny. A historical and social commentary.'' Reprint, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1998. p. 431.
Quadratilla was probably a daughter of
Gaius Ummidius Durmius Quadratus
Gaius Ummidius Durmius Quadratus (c. 12 BC – c. 60 AD) was a Roman senator of the Principate. He was the first member of the Ummidii to reach the office of consul in his family, or a ''homo novus''. Quadratus is also known for his tenure as gov ...
, the governor of
Syria, who died in 60AD. She is mentioned in two inscriptions discovered at Casinum in
Lazio
it, Laziale
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, the hometown of her family:
* "Ummidia C(ai) f(ilia) / Quadratilla / amphitheatrum et / templum Casinatibus / sua pecunia fecit" ().
* "
mmidia C(ai) f(ilia) Qudrati
la theatrm /
mpensis? patri sui
xornatum? vetusate /
ollapsum Casinatibus su pec(unia)
esitu
t et ob dedicaionem /
ecurionibus et popuo et
lier
bus epulumdedit" (/)
Bibliography
*
References
External links
Pliny ''Ep.'' vii. 24 (English)
{{SmithDGRBM, title=Quadratilla, Ummidia, volume=3, page=630, url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/acl3129.0003.001/638?view=image&size=100
1st-century Roman women
2nd-century Romans
Quadratilla