Ummidia Quadratilla was a wealthy Roman woman and was a member of the gens Ummidia. She died in the reign of Emperor

Trajan Trajan ( ; born Marcus Ulpius Traianus, 18 September 53) was a Roman emperor from AD 98 to 117, remembered as the second of the Five Good Emperors of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. He was a philanthropic ruler and a successful soldier ...

(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 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus (born Gaius Caecilius or Gaius Caecilius Cilo; 61 – ), better known in English as Pliny the Younger ( ), was a lawyer, author, and magistrate of Ancient Rome. Pliny's uncle, Pliny the Elder, helped raise and e ...

, who praises her for fostering Quadratus' studies while keeping him untouched by her 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 Nicolas 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. Hi ...

. ''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 gove ...

, the governor of

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

, who died in 60AD. She is mentioned in two inscriptions discovered in

Casinum Casinum was an ancient town of Italy, of Osci, Oscan

(

Cassino Cassino () is a ''comune'' in the province of Frosinone at the southern end of the region of Lazio. It's the last city of the Valle Latina, Latin Valley. It is located at the foot of Monte Cairo near the confluence of the Gari (river), Gari and ...

) in

Lazio Lazio ( , ; ) or Latium ( , ; from Latium, the original Latin name, ) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy, administrative regions of Italy. Situated in the Central Italy, central peninsular section of the country, it has 5,714,882 inhabitants an ...

, 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 1st-century Romans 2nd-century Romans Quadratilla