The Columna Lactaria, the nutrices and the expositio of children: Nursing babies and pietas in the city of Rome

In ancient Rome, the Columna Lactaria was represented a powerful symbol of nurses and a place where babies were abandoned. This paper highlights its location in the Field of Mars and its proximity to the temple of Pietas, a goddess that seemingly reinforced the protection of babies without biological breastfeeding. In addition, it tries to go beyond the debate on the clearly versatile role of the Columna Lactaria as a refuge for the victims of the expositio, and the presence of nurses, where they could easily be hired. It also reflects on its evolution, since it disappeared in the early empire, the habit remained until recent times as the term applied to children who were left at the door of convents, or to foundlings.