Julia Balbilla

[1] Whilst in Thebes, touring Egypt as part of the imperial court of Hadrian, she inscribed three epigrams which have survived.

[3] As well as Egyptian and Greek elements, Balbilla's ancestry included Armenian, Median, Syrian and Seleucian lines.

Balbilla was the second child of Gaius Julius Archelaus Antiochus Epiphanes and Claudia Capitolina, a Greek woman born in Alexandria.

Her older brother was Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos, one of the first men of eastern descent to become consul at Rome.

Balbilla's paternal grandparents, Antiochus IV of Commagene and Queen Julia Iotapa were puppet rulers under Rome.

Prior to Balbilla's birth, Vespasian had ordered Antiochus IV to abdicate the throne of Commagene because of his alleged disloyalty to Rome.

Balbilla was a court poet and friend of Hadrian and companion or lady in waiting to his wife, Vibia Sabina.

[8] The statue may have reminded Balbilla of the sculptures on Mount Nemrut and the mausoleum of her ancestor, Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, the descendants of whom she references in her poems.

Inspired by Sappho, Balbilla also used traditional lyric themes: the love of songs and a liking for the Muses.

The first and second epigrams tell the story of a mythical king of Ethiopia, Memnon, killed by Achilles at Troy, whom the god Zeus made immortal.

But when the Titan driving through the heavens with his steeds of white, brought into shadow the second measure of hours, like ringing bronze Memnon again sent out his voice.

Memnon, son of Aurora and holy Tithon, seated before Thebes, city of Zeus, or Amenoth, Egyptian King, as learned.

Priests recount from ancient stories, greetings, and singing, welcome her kindly, the August wife of the emperor Hadrian.

A barbarian man cut off your tongue and ears: Impious Cambyses; but he paid the penalty, with a wretched death struck by the same sword point with which pitiless he slew the divine Apis.