Blaesilla

Feminine diminutive of Blaesus. Blaesilla (364–384) was a Roman widow and disciple of Jerome. Most of the knowledge about Blaesilla's life comes from the writings of Jerome, in which he described her piety and virtue. She also inspired Jerome to translate the book of Ecclesiastes. Blaesilla was widowed at the age of 18; at first, she enjoyed her freedom as a widow, but after a life-threatening fever, became "a changed woman" and a severe ascetic, practicing fasting as a spiritual discipline. Her fasts dramatically weakened her, and she died within four months, at the age of 20. Modern writers and researchers have connected Blaesilla with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa; she has been called "the first victim of anorexia nervosa, described in the literature".