Pompeia Celerina

Pompeia Celerina, the daughter of Pompeius Celer, was a wealthy Roman noblewoman. She married twice. Her daughter was the second wife of Pliny the Younger.

The daughter died about 97 c.e., but Celerina and Pliny remained friends. He was probably closer to her age than that of her daughter. Celerina owned several villas in Umbria and Perusia. Pliny considered the purchase of a nearby estate. The price was 3 million sesterces. Somewhat strapped for cash since his wealth was chiefly in land, he planned to borrow from Celerina. He felt quite comfortable using her money as if it were his own. Celerina, in turn, used Pliny’s connections with the emperor Trajan. She requested the appointment of her kinsman, Caelius Clemens, to a proconsulship.