Nonia Celsa
Nonia Celsa is the name given by the Historia Augusta to the wife of Roman Emperor Macrinus, who ruled briefly in 217-218. She was the mother of Diadumenian (born in 208).
Life
The only evidence of her existence is a happy letter allegedly written by Macrinus to his wife after he became emperor. The first line is as follows: "Opellius Macrinus to his wife Nonia Celsa. The good fortune to which we have attained, my dear wife, is incalculable."[1]
The letter can be found in the biography of Diadumenian, part of a collection called Historia Augusta. Such "documents" are generally considered fabrications in the book. The biographer(s) is also infamous for inventing a lot of never existing persons and names. Without further evidence the existence of Nonia Celsa remains highly dubious.[2]
References
- ^ Historia Augusta • Life of Diadumenianus
- ^ W. Kroll, Paulys Real-Encyclopadie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft by G. Wissowa, XVII.1 pp. 901-902