Roman coin commemorating Salonia Matidia – a woman whom emperor Trajan treated as a daughter.
Salonia Matidia was the daughter of Ulpia Marciana (older sister of Trajan) and praetor Salonius Matidius Patruinus. After the death in 78 CE of Patruinus, Matidia and her mother came under the protection of Trajan.
Matidia often traveled with the emperor around the Roman Empire and influenced his decisions. After her death in 119 CE, the emperor Hadrian decided to deify her and ordered to build a temple and an altar in her honor. Thus, Matidia was the first Roman to whom the temple was dedicated.
