Hispala Faecenia

Hispala Faecenia was a freedwoman and rich courtesan from ancient Rome involved in giving a testimony that helped put a stop to the Bacchanalian scandal of 186 BCE. Hispala's role in the Bacchanalian scandal was to provide information on exactly what happened at the Bacchanalia. However, Hispala supports Aebutius by paying him for sexual services. The reason why Hispala was honourable in Livy's eyes in spite of her profession was because she made a confession in front of a consul with appropriate attitude, and because this in turn triggered the repression of the Bacchanalia. This explains why Livy presents her as favourably known (nobile).

Role in the Bacchanalian scandal Livy claims that after Hispala refused to stop until Aebutius promised he would not join in the Bacchanalia, he went home and told his parents that he would not join as an initiate. Hispala's testimony resulted in the Bacchanalian rites to be reformed to a very large extent.

On a similar note, Nousek claims that when being questioned Hispala was interrogated for affirmation on what happened at the rites, while Aebutius' answers are just accepted by Postumius. According to Watson, Hispala didn't need the right to choose her tutor because her current tutor didn't interfere with her; the right to choose her tutor was a pointless reward. Watson goes on to say, Hispala was given the reward to marry a patrician man that no shame would come to. This reward however only meant that if she did, it would remove any legal stain and the social stigma would still remain because of her profession regardless.

Name and given title According to Livy in Walsh's article, the name Hispala may come from Spanish origin and that it was most likely given to her by her previous owner.

Kajanto says that there is a possibility that Hispala Faecenia, the woman, originated from the Italian countryside. Kajanto also makes note of the only known possible derivatives of her name being Cornelius Scipio Hispallus and Hispo, but it is highly unlikely.