Locusta

Locusta (or Lucusta) was notorious in Ancient Rome for her skill in concocting poisons. Along with Locusta, Canidia and Martina made up the infamous trio of female poisoners in Roman times.

She was born in the ancient province of Gaul. Her early history remains mostly a mystery. According to ancient historians, in AD 54 Locusta was hired by Agrippina the Younger to supply a poisoned dish of mushrooms for the murder of Emperor Claudius. Once the drug was made, the task of administering it was given to Claudius's food-taster Halotus. In 55, she was convicted of poisoning another victim, but Nero rescued her from execution and in return called upon her to supply poison to murder Britannicus.