| Gaius Ummidius Actius Anicetus | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Roman |
| Occupation | Pantomime actor |
Gaius Ummidius Actius Anicetus was a Roman pantomime actor who lived in Pompeii.
Actius is attested in an inscription from Puteoli that identifies him as a pantomime actor. 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. Various graffiti found at Pompeii record praise for Actius. These include:
- "Actius, master of stage performers." from tomb 4 in the Fondo Pacifico near the amphitheater of Pompeii
- "Actius, greetings." from the large theater at Pompeii
- a possible mention of Actius from Herculaneum: "Lucius Actius, hail. Mysticus, the musician, of the comedian Icuus ... we were for you."
An actor named Actius also appears in Unit 1, Stage 5 of the Cambridge Latin Course.
References
- James L. Franklin, Jr. 1987. “Pantomimists at Pompeii: Actius Anicetus and His Troupe.” The American Journal of Philology 108.1:95-107.
- Beard, Mary (2010-07-09). Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town. Profile Books. pp. 258–. ISBN 9781847650641. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- "Gaius Ummidius Actius Anicetus, pantomime" ILS 5183
- Robert K. Sherk (14 July 1988). The Roman Empire: Augustus to Hadrian. Cambridge University Press. pp. 212–. ISBN 978-0-521-33887-5.
- Pliny Epist. 7.24.1
- Alison E. Cooley; M. G. L. Cooley (1 October 2013). Pompeii and Herculaneum: A Sourcebook. Routledge. pp. 99–. ISBN 978-1-134-62449-2.
- CIL 4, 5399
- CIL 4, 4965
- CIL 4, 10643c
- Caroline Lawrence (30 December 2010). Trimalchio's Feast and Other Mini-Mysteries. Orion Publishing Group. pp. 75–. ISBN 978-1-84255-757-0.