Lucius Arruntius Stella was a Roman senator, who was active during the reigns of Domitian, Nerva and Trajan. He was suffect consul in October of 101 as the colleague of Lucius Julius Marinus Caecilius Simplex.[1] He is known from the works of the poets Martial and Statius. Martial records Stella wrote poems, in a style influenced by Catullus and Tibullus.[2] None of his poems have survived.
According to Martial, Stella had come from Patavium in northern Italy.[3] He was appointed to organize the games that celebrated Domitian's victory over the Chatti and Dacians in either the year 89 or 93.[4] Stella had also become a member of the Quindecimviri sacris faciundis, the Roman priesthood entrusted with the care of the Sibylline oracles, which admitted him by AD 91.
Statius wrote an epithalamium, or a marriage poem, for Stella. It is from this work we learn the identity of his wife: Violentilla, a wealthy Neapolitan widow.[5]