Caecilia Metella (fl. 1st century
BC) was a Roman matron of the first century BC, who belonged to the powerful family of the
Caecilii Metelli. She was possibly the mother of
Clodius.
Personal life
Caecilia Metella was the daughter of
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus, consul in 123 BC.
She was possibly married to
Appius Claudius Pulcher, a politician of an old, somewhat impoverished,
patrician family. As a member of an important family and married into another, Metella would be one of Rome's most esteemed ''matronas''. Pulcher had six known children; three sons,
Appius
Appius (), feminine Appia, is a Latin praenomen, or personal name, usually abbreviated Ap. or sometimes App., and best known as a result of its extensive use by the patrician '' gens Claudia''. The praenomen also gave rise to the patronymic '' ge ...
,
Gaius
Gaius, sometimes spelled Caius, was a common Latin praenomen; see Gaius (praenomen).
People
* Gaius (biblical figure) (1st century AD)
*Gaius (jurist) (), Roman jurist
* Gaius Acilius
* Gaius Antonius
* Gaius Antonius Hybrida
* Gaius Asinius Gal ...
and the famous
Publius, and three girls; one who married
Lucullus
Lucius Licinius Lucullus (; 118–57/56 BC) was a Ancient Romans, Roman List of Roman generals, general and Politician, statesman, closely connected with Lucius Cornelius Sulla. In culmination of over 20 years of almost continuous military and ...
, one who married
Quintus Marcius Rex, and one (known as
Clodia) who married
Metellus Celer.
Protector
During
Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (, ; 138–78 BC), commonly known as Sulla, was a Roman people, Roman general and statesman of the late Roman Republic. A great commander and ruthless politician, Sulla used violence to advance his career and his co ...
's proscriptions, Metella sheltered
Sextus Roscius after his father's murder. Later, Roscius was defended by the young
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises tha ...
, helped by Metella's nephews
Metellus Celer and
Metellus Nepos, in the celebrated speech ''
Pro Roscio Amerino
''Pro Roscio Amerino'' is a defence speech given by Marcus Tullius Cicero on behalf of Sextus Roscius, a Roman citizen from the municipality of Amelia accused of murdering his father. Delivered in 80 BC, it was Cicero's first major public case ...
''.
Temple of Juno
This woman has been identified with the one who in 90 BC had a dream of
Juno Sospita complaining about the neglect of her temple. Metella cleaned out the temple and was credited with saving the cult of Sospita.
Cultural depictions
Author
Colleen McCullough
Colleen Margaretta McCullough (; married name Robinson, previously Ion-Robinson; 1 June 193729 January 2015) was an Australian author known for her novels, her most well-known being '' The Thorn Birds'' and '' The Ladies of Missalonghi''.
Lif ...
included Metella as a character in her novel ''
Fortune's Favourites'', a fictionalised account of the demise of Sulla and rise of Julius Caesar.
She describes Metella as "an ex-
Vestal", a claim for which there is no historical evidence.
See also
*
Women in ancient Rome
Freeborn (Ancient Rome), Freeborn women in ancient Rome were Roman citizenship, citizens (''cives''), but could not vote or hold Roman magistrate, political office. Because of their limited public role, women are named less frequently than men by ...
*
Caecilia gens
The gens Caecilia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are mentioned in history as early as the fifth century BC, but the first of the Caecilii who obtained the consulship was Lucius Caecilius Metellus Denter, in 284 BC.' ...
*
Caecilii Metelli family tree
The Caecilii Metelli were one of the most important families of the late Roman Republic. They rose to prominence in the beginning of the third century, with the consulship of Lucius Caecilius Metellus Denter in 284 BC. It was however Quintus C ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caecilia Metella
Caecilii Metelli
Deaths in childbirth
1st-century BC Roman women
1st-century BC Romans
2nd-century BC births
Year of birth unknown