# Faustina the Elder

> Roman empress and wife of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius

**Wikidata**: [Q234734](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q234734)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faustina_the_Elder)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/faustina-the-elder

## Summary
Faustina the Elder (also known as Annia Galeria Faustina or Faustina Major) was a Roman empress who served as the wife of Emperor Antoninus Pius, holding this position from approximately 138 to 140 AD.

## Biography
- Born: +0105-02-16T00:00:00Z (around 105 AD)
- Nationality: Roman (citizenship: Q1747689)
- Education: Not specified in the source material
- Known for: Being Roman empress and wife of Antoninus Pius
- Employer(s): Roman Empire (as empress)
- Field(s): Not specified in the source material

## Contributions
No specific contributions like publications, projects, or achievements are detailed in the source material.

## FAQs
- Where did Faustina the Elder serve as empress? She served as empress of the Roman Empire during the reign of her husband Antoninus Pius.
- What was her relationship to Emperor Antoninus Pius? She was the wife and empress of Emperor Antoninus Pius.
- What are her alternative names? She is also known as Annia Galeria Faustina, Faustina I, Faustina Major, and Faustina Maior.
- When did she die? She died on January 1, 140 AD.

## Why They Matter
Faustina the Elder holds significance as a Roman empress who lived during the Pax Romana period, representing the imperial family and contributing to the stability and cultural development of the Roman Empire during the 2nd century AD. Her position as empress influenced Roman society and governance, and her legacy is preserved through historical records and artistic representations.

## Notable For
- Served as Roman empress alongside Emperor Antoninus Pius
- Known by multiple names including Faustina Major and Annia Galeria Faustina
- Died on January 1, 140 AD
- Portrayed in a colossal portrait from Hadrian's Villa

## Body
### Early Life
Faustina the Elder was born around 105 AD, as indicated by the date +0105-02-16T00:00:00Z from the source material. She was a member of the Roman aristocracy, with her full name being Annia Galeria Faustina. The exact place of her birth is not specified in the provided information.

### Marriage and Reign
She married Antoninus Pius, who became Roman emperor in 138 AD. As the wife of the emperor, she held the title of Augusta and was known as Faustina Major or Faustina the Elder to distinguish her from her daughter Faustina the Younger. Her role as empress involved participating in imperial ceremonies and representing the imperial family at public events.

### Death and Legacy
Faustina the Elder died on January 1, 140 AD, according to the information provided. Her death occurred during the reign of her husband Antoninus Pius. She was buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian, which later became known as the Castel Sant'Angelo. Her legacy is preserved through historical records and artistic representations, including a colossal portrait from Hadrian's Villa that is now housed in the Vatican Museums.

### Cultural Representation
A significant artistic representation of Faustina the Elder is the colossal portrait from the Pantanello at Hadrian's Villa, dating from 138-140 AD. This portrait is currently located in the Vatican Museums in Rome with the identifier 9459345263. The portrait depicts her in imperial regalia, reflecting her status as empress.

### Historical Significance
As the wife of Antoninus Pius, Faustina the Elder played an important role in Roman imperial politics during a period of relative stability and prosperity known as the Pax Romana. Her position as empress influenced Roman society and governance, and her legacy is preserved through historical records and artistic representations. The source material indicates she was considered a significant figure in Roman history, with multiple references to her in historical and academic sources.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/high-gallery.html)
2. [Source](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7580745.stm)
3. [Source](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7580745.stm)
4. [Source](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7560833.stm)
5. Annius 93 (Pauly-Wissowa)
6. Faustina
7. Union List of Artist Names. 2015
8. [Source](https://pantheon.world/profile/person/Faustina_the_Elder)
9. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
10. Alvin
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. Internet Archive
13. CERL Thesaurus