Fabia Arete

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Fabia Arete was a dancer, actress and singer in Ancient Rome.

She was a freedwoman (specifically 'of Marcus'), which was a common background for a stage performer.{{Cite journal |last=Gregori |first=Gian Luca |date=2005 |title=I protagonisti della scena teatrale nella documentazione epigrafica di Roma |url=https://www.torrossa.com/en/resources/an/3084765 |journal=Scienze dell'Antichità: 12, 2004/2005 |language=en |pages=575–590}} She is referred to as an archimima, which was the title for the leading lady actress of a Roman theatre, and as a diurna, signifying that she toured as a guest actress in different theatres and theatre companies, demonstrating that she enjoyed fame and popularity.Christer Bruun, J. C. Edmondson: [https://books.google.com/books?id=Z2bDBAAAQBAJ&dq=Fabia+Arete&pg=PA593 The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy]

She is described as a famed actress and likely belonged to the elite minority of Roman actresses employed to perform speaking roles in a period when female stage artists were normally engaged only to dance or sing in the choir, and she became wealthy enough to afford a grand funeral monument for herself and her spouse.{{Cite book |last=García Morcillo |first=Marta |url=https://www.torrossa.com/en/resources/an/3167052 |title=Ruin or Renewal?: Places and the Transformation of Memory in the City of Rome |last2=Richardson |first2=James H. |last3=Santangelo |first3=Federico |date=2016 |pages= |language=en}} A role she is believed to have performed was the famous comedy role of the plotting wife Charition.Pat Easterling, Edith Hall: [https://books.google.com/books?id=vWzdX7Yqq7MC&dq=bassilla+actress+ancient&pg=PA301 Greek and Roman Actors: Aspects of an Ancient Profession]