Lucius Arruntius Stella

Lucius Arruntius Stella was a Roman senator, who was active during the reigns of Domitian, Nerva and Trajan. He was suffect consul in October of 101 as the colleague of Lucius Julius Marinus Caecilius Simplex.[1] He is known from the works of the poets Martial and Statius. Martial records Stella wrote poems, in a style influenced by Catullus and Tibullus.[2] None of his poems have survived.

According to Martial, Stella had come from Patavium in northern Italy.[3] He was appointed to organize the games that celebrated Domitian's victory over the Chatti and Dacians in either the year 89 or 93.[4] Stella had also become a member of the Quindecimviri sacris faciundis, the Roman priesthood entrusted with the care of the Sibylline oracles, which admitted him by AD 91.

Statius wrote an epithalamium, or a marriage poem, for Stella. It is from this work we learn the identity of his wife: Violentilla, a wealthy Neapolitan widow.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Werner Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfastern der senatorischen statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139", Chiron, 12 (1982), p. 327 n.181
  2. ^ Martial, Epigrams, I.7; IV.6; XII.3
  3. ^ Epigrams I.61
  4. ^ Martial, Epigrams VIII.78
  5. ^ Statius, Silvae I.2
Political offices
Preceded by
[...]us Proculus,
and ignotus
as Suffect consuls
Suffect consul of the Roman Empire
101
with Lucius Julius Marinus Caecilius Simplex
Succeeded byas Ordinary consuls