Gaius Ummidius Actius Anicetus

Gaius Ummidius Actius Anicetus
NationalityRoman
OccupationPantomime actor

Gaius Ummidius Actius Anicetus was a Roman pantomime actor who lived in Pompeii.[1][2]

Actius is attested in an inscription from Puteoli that identifies him as a pantomime actor.[3] The possibility has been raised that Actius may be the freedman (libertus) of Ummidia Quadratilla who is discussed in the letters of Pliny the Younger.[4][5] Various graffiti found at Pompeii record praise for Actius.[6] These include:

  • "Actius, master of stage performers." from tomb 4 in the Fondo Pacifico near the amphitheater of Pompeii[7]
  • "Actius, greetings." from the large theater at Pompeii[8]
  • a possible mention of Actius from Herculaneum: "Lucius Actius, hail. Mysticus, the musician, of the comedian Icuus ... we were for you."[9]

An actor named Actius also appears in Unit 1, Stage 5 of the Cambridge Latin Course.[10]

References

  1. ^ James L. Franklin, Jr. 1987. “Pantomimists at Pompeii: Actius Anicetus and His Troupe.” The American Journal of Philology 108.1:95-107.
  2. ^ Beard, Mary (2010-07-09). Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town. Profile Books. pp. 258–. ISBN 9781847650641. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Gaius Ummidius Actius Anicetus, pantomime" ILS 5183
  4. ^ Robert K. Sherk (14 July 1988). The Roman Empire: Augustus to Hadrian. Cambridge University Press. pp. 212–. ISBN 978-0-521-33887-5.
  5. ^ Pliny Epist. 7.24.1
  6. ^ Alison E. Cooley; M. G. L. Cooley (1 October 2013). Pompeii and Herculaneum: A Sourcebook. Routledge. pp. 99–. ISBN 978-1-134-62449-2.
  7. ^ CIL 4, 5399
  8. ^ CIL 4, 4965
  9. ^ CIL 4, 10643c
  10. ^ Caroline Lawrence (30 December 2010). Trimalchio's Feast and Other Mini-Mysteries. Orion Publishing Group. pp. 75–. ISBN 978-1-84255-757-0.