  We study solutions of a quadratic matrix equation arising in Riemannian
geometry. Let $S$ be a real symmetric $n\times n$-matrix with zeros on the
diagonal and let $\theta$ be a real number. We construct nonzero solutions
$(S,\theta)$ of the set of quadratic equations \[\sum_kS_{i,k}=0\quad\text{ and
}\quad\sum_{k}S_{i,k}S_{k,j}+S_{i,j}^2=\theta S_{i,j}\text { for }i<j.\] Our
solutions relate the equations to strongly regular graphs, to group rings, and
to multiplicative characters of finite fields.
