Sulpicia Lepidina facts for kids
Sulpicia Lepidina was an important Roman woman who lived in Roman Britain around 100 AD. She was married to Flavius Cerialis, who was a commander, or prefect, of a group of soldiers called the Ninth Cohort of Batavians. This group of soldiers was stationed at a Roman fort called Vindolanda. We know about Sulpicia Lepidina because of letters she received, especially a special birthday invitation from her friend, Claudia Severa.
Discovering Sulpicia Lepidina's Letters
Sulpicia Lepidina received two letters from her friend, Claudia Severa. Claudia Severa was also a commander's wife, living at a nearby Roman fort. One of these letters is a famous invitation to a birthday party. It is one of the most well-known Vindolanda tablets and can be seen at the British Museum today.
Part of the birthday invitation was written by a professional scribe, but Claudia Severa wrote some of it herself. This letter, along with another small piece of writing by Severa, is thought to be the oldest writing by a Roman woman ever found in Britain. These letters are very personal and show a close friendship. Severa even calls Lepidina her "sister."
Sulpicia Lepidina also received a letter from another woman, possibly named Paterna. This letter is harder to read completely. It talks about either bringing remedies (like medicines) to Lepidina, or perhaps bringing two enslaved girls who were free from fever. The tablet is too damaged to be sure which meaning is correct.
How the Letters Survived
These ancient letters were written with ink on thin wooden tablets. They were discovered during excavations at Vindolanda in the 1970s. Vindolanda was a Roman fort built where two streams met. This made the ground very wet. The floors of the fort were covered with thick layers of moss, ferns, and straw. The Vindolanda tablets were found hidden in this damp, thick carpet and in filled-in ditches. The waterlogged soil conditions at Vindolanda helped to preserve these delicate wooden tablets for nearly 2,000 years!
Images for kids
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A letter from Claudia Severa inviting Sulpicia Lepidina to her birthday party.
