| Tertulla | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| First appearance | S3E01: Enemies of Rome | |
| Last appearance | S3E02: Wolves at the Gate | |
| Profession | Roman Noble | |
| Race | Roman | |
| Relationships | Marcus Licinius Crassus (Husband) Tiberius (Son, deceased) Publius (Son) Licinia (Cousin-in-Law, deceased) Kore (Slave, deceased) Ilithyia (Friend, deceased) | |
| Status | Active | |
| Actor/Actress | Katherine Kennard | |
Tertulla is a wealthy Roman woman, the wife of Marcus Licinius Crassus. She is also the mother of Tiberius and Publius.
Appearance
Tertulla has long, wavy blonde hair and brown eyes. She wears the attire of an elite Roman citizen and utilizes much jewlery in her appearance.
Personality
Tertulla is an extravagant woman abiding in the elite Roman class. While having the typical Roman arrogance, she loves her family deeply and is often distraught by her husband's constant attention towards work as oppossed to attention to her.
She also appears to hold contempt, even jealously towards Kore, the attractive female body slave of her husband, due to how high he holds her.
War of the Damned
When Crassus raises his army, Tertulla tries to persuade him to give their son Tiberius the position of Tribune. Crassus rejects her offer, saying that Tiberius is not ready to hold title of command and that he must earn it by proving himself as a soldier on the field. It is evident that Crassus prefers the company of his body slave, Kore, to his wife, and although she may be jealous, Tertulla is too proud to do anything.
Tertulla talking to Tiberius.
Tertulla rather boldy packing.
She later speaks with her son, Tiberius and tells him to not show any doubt in the upcoming campaign and prove himself worthy of a command as she believes him to be. He reassures her that he will prove himself.
As preparations are finalized, Tertulla rather boldy begins packing - she has numerous, large wooden cases filled with her possesions so she will be well taken care, as she believes she will be joining her husband. Unfortunately, Crassus does not agree - he later asks Kore to join him instead.
Historical Context
Little is known about the historical Tertulla, other than her being the only known child of Consul Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus, however since her name translates to "the third daughter", she may well have had at least two older sisters (both other whom perhaps did not survive into adulthood), as well as possibly possessing the name Terentia Varra, along with both her sisters, thus making her Terentia Varra Tertulla. Her birthdate is also unknown, but it is presumed that she married Crassus when she was 15 years old, so her year of birth would have been around 101-100 BC, historically made her around the same age as Caesar.
She had two sons with Crassus, Marcus and Publius. It is assumed that Tiberius in the show is a stand in for Marcus, and had his name changed to avoid confusion with his father. However, their son Marcus was born in 86-85 BC, making him too young to serve in his fathers legions, only being 15 or 14 years old during the rebellion. Lucullus had been a supporter of Lucius Cornelius Sulla in the Social War, along with Crassus, which could explain their marriage.
It is unknown what life Tertulla led after Crassus was killed during the Parthian War in 53 BC, if she and Crassus had not divorced or even died between 71 BC and 53 BC, but it can be presumed she led a comfortable life in one of Crassus' various estates.
Trivia
- Tertulla means "the third daughter".
- Tertulla's father was Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus, who during the Third Servile War, had defeated the Bessi tribe of Thrace, located in southern Thrace. His victory over this tribe is one of the possible reasons the rebels chose not to cross the Alps, thus leaving Spartacus the one choosing not to cross, as apposed to the rebels deciding not to cross.
- Tertulla may have been born into the Patrician Gens Atillia.
- The Latin word for wife is Uxor. 'Spouse' would be Coniunx.
- The Latin word for mother is Mater (her relationship with Tiberius and Publius Crassus).
- Tertulia is the only historical figure woman shown in the show; Cornelia, the wife of Caesar, is mentioned in Blood and Sand and in War of The Damned.