The millionaire: Titus Pomponius Atticus

Born in 110 BC Titus Pomponius was one of the richest men of his time, managing his fortune by investing in land and by acting as a financier. Such was his wealth that he could lend money not just to individuals but also to cities and communities. The name of Atticus (the Athenian) by which he is best known was a nickname acquired from living for almost 20 years in Athens and from his interest in Greek culture and philosophy.

Atticus bought an estate near Butrint in 68 BC. It is possible that his landholdings in the area were spread also over Corfu, and northern Greece. However, the villa near Butrint is the only one mentioned specifically in the correspondence with his friend the Roman orator Cicero, and Atticus spent much time there during the late 60s and early 50s BC.

Little is known about the villa but several references are made to an amaltheum – a shrine to the goddess of fruitfulness of the land; appropriate since Epirus was famous for its fertile land and rich pastures. The Butrint villa has not yet been found, but the open, fertile valley along the river Pavllas, with a view to Butrint and aired by breezes during the summer, is a possible location.

Atticus’ wealth and influence gave him great influence in Epirus. Cicero jokingly calls the area around Butrint Atticus’ ‘province’ (Letters to Atticus 6.3.2). It was to him that the citizens of Butrint appealed for help when Caesar planned to establish a colony of veteran soldiers in the city, and it were clients of his that were to reach the highest position of duovir in the new Roman city. Not surprisingly, the city erected a statue in honour of Atticus calling him “well-deserving”.

Atticus consistently refused public magistracies and preferred to remain on good terms with all the various political players – a position that undoubtedly suited his financial engagements. Thus, he could claim to be the friend of both Mark Antony and Augustus. He died in 32 BC – the year before Augustus’ victory at Actium. However, already around 37 BC Atticus had married his daughter Caecilia Attica to Agrippa, the friend and general of Augustus. The influence of Atticus at Butrint was hence to continue through the authority of his son-in-law.

 

• The Roman Colony
• Caesar and the colony at Butrint
• The millionaire: Titus Pomponius Atticus
• Augustus and the refoundation of the colony
• Butrint and Nero