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The Mons Aventinus Villa of Xtreemli Curius

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Villa of Ummidia Quadratilla

Cornificia’s daughter, Ummidia Quadratilla was actually a rich merchant, who lived to the ripe old age of 80, something almost unheard of. She was quite wealthy too. In addition to the villa, three family trade warehouses are on the property, as well as the vast gardens that went right up to the Servian Wall.

Welcome Family and Friends!
I am waiting for you in the Atrium

Dear friends,

If it wasn't for my best friend, Ummidia, I would not be here with you fine
citizens enjoying the comforts of our hostess. There are a million stories in the City and mine is one of them. Relax, sit back, the slaves will bring us wine and food. Do you feel like a story tonight?

To be a wealthy woman in Rome is to have your life handed to you on Juno's platter. It was because of my childhood friend, Pliny, that I am here to tell this story. Pliny was a snot-nosed kid, but I liked him. He had a special quality that was rare in Roman boys; he did not have delusions of grandeur. When we were older, we would go to parties and dinners together; we were two bossom buddies who never kiss but tell each other everything. One such evening, at a quiet soireé, he introduced me to a friend of his father's, a lively matrona known as Ummidia Quadratilla. She was very wealthy; so wealthy in fact she could afford to keep her own private company of entertainers. This, dear friends, became an auspicious introduction.

Ummidia took an immediate liking to yours truly, and I to her. She is the reason I find myself basking in the luxuries and pleasures of all that Rome has to offer. Before I forget, if anyone needs to get in touch with me, simply direct your letters to the House of Ummidia Quadratilla. This is to be my home, at least for a while.

And what a home it is! The property is sprawling with magnificent gardens that are a wonder to behold. They extend right up to the Servian Wall. In addition, three family trade warehouses are on the property. The designer was quite astute in leaving a grove of trees between between them and the Villa, blocking the trade buildings from view.

The neighborhood isn't bad either. Emperor Hadrian's private villa is nearby. The House of Cornificia is just around the corner. That is where the sister of Marcus Aurelius lived. She married M. Ummidius Quadratus. Her villa, like that of Hadrian's, is a rich mansion with an unparalleled view of the Aventine.

A bird’s eye view of the neighborhood. On the left the House of Cornificia, below that, Hadrian’s villa. This splendid home was built on several levels on the south point of the lower Aventine. Believe me, it is impressive.

Model courtesy of André Caron, Québec

Lovely Umi, my affectionate name for my friend and hostess ~ she always smiled when I addressed her this way ~ would leave her mark in history. Do not take my word for it, for surely my previous lax in credibility is well known, and not to distract from the subject of this letter, you will be happy to know that I have been working on becoming a more virtuous Roman. I can already see your mocking face. Nonetheless, read for yourself about our dear Ummidia from my good friend, Pliny, whose words are highly regarded by everyone.

As always, Xtreemli Curius

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pliny the Younger, Letter To Geminius

Ummida Quadratilla is dead, having lived almost to her eightieth year. She enjoyed till her last sickness an uninterrupted state of health, with a strength and firmness of body unusual even to matrons in their prime. She has left a will that does her great credit, having disposed of twothirds of her estate to her grandson, and the rest to her granddaughter.

The young lady I know little of, but the grandson is one of my most intimate friends. He is a young man of singular worth, for whom others than his own kin may well feel the affection due to a kinsman. Though he is extremely beautiful, he escaped every malicious imputation both whilst a boy and when a youth; he was a husband at four and twenty, and would have been a father if providence had not disappointed his hopes.

He lived in the family of his grandmother, who was exceedingly devoted to the pleasures of the town, with great severity of conduct, yet at the same time with the utmost compliance. She retained a set of pantomimes, whom she encouraged more than becomes a lady of quality. But Quadratus never witnessed their performances, either when she exhibited them in the theatre, or in her own house; nor did she exact his attendance. I once heard her say, when she was commending her grandson's oratorical studies to my care, that it was her habit, being a woman and as such debarred from active life, to amuse herself with playing at chess or backgammon, and to look on at the mimicry of her pantomimes; but that before engaging in either diversion, she constantly sent away her grandson to his studies: a custom, I imagine, which she observed as much out of a certain reverence, as affection, to the youth.

I was a good deal surprised, as I am persuaded you will be, at what he told me the last time the Sacerdotal Games were exhibited. As we were coming out of the theatre together, where we had been entertained with a contest of these pantomimes, "Do you know," said he, "this is the first time I ever saw one of my grandmother's freedmen dance?" Such was the conduct of the grandson; while a set of men of a far different stamp, in order to do honour to Quadratilla (I am ashamed to employ that word to what, in truth, was but the lowest and grossest flattery) used to flock to the theatre, where they would rise up and clap in an excess of admiration at the performances of those pantomimes, slavishly copying all the while, with shrieks of applause, every sign of approbation given by the lady patroness of this company. But now all that these claqueurs have got in pay is only a few trifling legacies, which they have the mortification to receive from an heir who was never so much as present at Quadratilla's shows.

I send you this account, as knowing it is not disagreeable to you to hear the news of the town, and because I love to renew a pleasure by relating it. And indeed this instance of family affection in Quadratilla, and the honour done therein to that excellent youth her grandson, has afforded me a very sensible satisfaction; I rejoice also that the house which once belonged to Cassius, the founder and chief of the Cassian school of jurists, is to have a master no wise inferior to him. For be assured, my friend, Quadratus will fill and adorn it with his presence, and revive its pristine dignity, fame, and glory, by making it the home of as eminent an advocate as Cassius was a jurisconsult. Farewell.

Letter 24