Quintus Caecilius Metellus (palace owner)

Quintus Caecilius Metellus (born c. 130 BC) was a Roman military leader known for his palace in Tampillium on the Quirinal Hill, which featured a beautiful hanging garden in oriental style, with towers and terraces surrounded by a grove of trees. Other properties he was noted for owning include a house and a tomb at the Fifth Mile of the Appian Way, where he was buried. He was able to afford these luxuries from the favours he received during his campaign in Asia, granted to him by his relative, perhaps his first cousin, Lucius Licinius Lucullus.^[1]

Not having issue, he adopted his maternal nephew, son of his sister Caecilia Metella (c. 130–c. 50 BC) and husband Titus Pomponius, Titus Pomponius Atticus; who for that reason became called Quintus Caecilius Pomponianus Atticus.

Filiation

He was the son of a Caecilius Metellus (born c. 160 BC). There is nothing that conclusively identifies his father; he may be the son of Lucius Caecilius Metellus Dalmaticus, Lucius Caecilius Metellus Diadematus or Marcus Caecilius Metellus, or, most likely, Lucius Caecilius Metellus Calvus, given the close connection to the famous Lucius Licinius Lucullus, son of one Caecilia Metella and maternal grandson of Lucius Caecilius Metellus Calvus.

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