HUM / REL 493 - Continuation of Intermediate Latin
Course Notes - Week 12
The photo on page 233 shows a bust of Cicero.
The drawing on page 235 is a sketch of the Forum in Rome. Some court cases would be tried in the Forum, in the open, with a ring of bystanders watching and listening.
The photo on page 241 is of the Stoic philosopher Chrysippos. It is now in the British Museum.
The photo on page 246 shows the remains of the Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum. During its history it burned down several times. The present remains date from AD 191. It housed the sacred fire, which was tended by the Vestal Virgins. It was believed that if the fire went out Rome would be defeated. If it did go out, it had to be relit by focussing the sun's rays.
The photo on page 248 shows the Temple of Castor and Pollux in the Roman Forum. Outdoor courts would be held near here. The Temple of Vesta is near the center of the photo.
The photo on page 251 shows modern Rome, with the remains of the Forum.
In the center foreground is the Palatine (wooded area and excavations).
The Arch of Titus is at the bottom right corner, and the Forum runs diagonally from there to the Arch of Septimus Severus and the Tabularium.
The Via dei Fori Imperali is at the right-hand edge.
The Capitoline is beyond the Forum.
The large white building beyond the Capitoline is the Victor Emmanuel Monument, commemorating King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, who reigned 1861-1878. He was actually the first "Victor Emmanuel" of Italy, but he was already King Victor Emmanuel II of Sicily, so he kept the numbering.
Beyond the Victor Emmanuel Monument is the Pantheon (only part of its roof shows).
At the top left corner is a bend of the Tiber river, with trees along one embankment. The Theater of Marcellus and Tiber Island are at the extreme right.
Cicero's speeches Pro Caelia are part of an actual Roman trial. The trial was not so much about justice and the law, but an attempt to defame Cicero's friend Caelius.
The background is that in 62 BC Publius Clodius Pulcher, brother of the Clodia who may have been Catullus' "Lesbia", had disguised himself as a woman in order to attend the Bona Dea women's mysteries, forbidden to men. He was found out, and a great scandal ensued. Julius Caesar divorced his first wife Pompeia, as it was in Caesar's residence, under Pompeia's direction, that the rite took place that year. In the previous year the rite had been held at Cicero's house. In the trial following the scandal, Clodius lied and claimed not to have been in Rome at the time, but Cicero gave evidence proving that Clodius was lying.
The Bona Dea trial was terminated by wholesale bribery by Crassus, leading to the acquittal of Clodius.
Clodius got his revenge on Cicero in 58 BC, when he became tribune, and brought a charge against Cicero. The charge was that, following the Catiline conspiracy of 63 BC, Cicero had condemned some of the conspirators to death without a trial. As a result, Cicero was sent into exile, and during that time Clodius confiscated all Cicero's property and had Cicero's house on the Palatine burned.
Cicero was allowed to return to Rome in 57 BC. The animosity between the two men continued to grow, and at one point Clodius assaulted Cicero in the street.
Caelius had served in Africa, and when he returned to Rome he brought charges against L. Calpurnius Bestia (it is not known now what the charges were). Bestia's son joined the fray by bringing charges against Caelius in 56BC, and this is the trial that Cicero was called to defend.
The main charges against Caelius were actually riot and murder, but those were not the charges which Cicero dealt with. Cicero concentrated on allegations of poison and the theft or unrepaid loan of gold, which Clodia had made against Caelius.
Instead of hearing witnesses and evidence, the trial turned to allegations and rumors of Clodia's personal character and sexual exploits - what decent Roman lady would entertain a young man who was not a relative, and would loan gold to him? Cicero went further, even insinuating an incestuous relationship between Clodia and Clodius.
In section III of the speech Cicero referred to Clodius as her husband - he did this on purpose, it was not a mistake on his part as he said in the speech. He also called her "the friend of everyone", which could also mean "the girl-friend of everyone".
In fact Clodius had been accused and condemned of incest with Clodia when she was the wife of Lucullus, during the Bona Dea scandal.
Cicero had realized that if he could discredit Clodia a large part of the case against Caelius would fall apart. So, while protesting that he was trying to spare the reputation of a noble lady (but he also added notorious), Cicero managed to defame her and blow the case apart.
Cicero's speech was on the second day of the trial. The presiding magistrate and the judges (maybe 75 or more of them) had already had one day with five long speeches. The day was a Roman holiday, but instead of relaxing, the judges were called to sit in the forum in the heat and the hot sun. Cicero played for humor and entertainment - it was the orator's business to influence the opinion of the judges rather than to present evidence or witnesses.
In earlier parts of the speech, not given in the textbook, Cicero dealt with and dismissed the charge that Caelius had been part of the Catiline conspiracy, nor had Caelius been part of the plot to poison the ambassador from Alexandria. Then Cicero started on "the facts" - charges which could all be traced to one accuser - Clodia.
In section III Cicero stated that his sense of responsibility would prevent him from fighting with a Roman lady - but with the implication that Clodia was no lady, and hence was fair game.
In section IV, as reported by Quintillian, Cicero adapted his delivery for each of the characters mentioned, as if it were a Roman comedy - Appius Claudius Caecus, Clodia's brother Publius Clodius Pulcher, and stock stage "father characters" - one stern and severe, the other soft and pliable. Also in this section Cicero managed to imply that Clodia was an older woman, leading a poor young adolescent (Caelius) astray.
In section V Cicero was speaking in the character of Appius Claudius Caecus, to remind Clodia - and the listeners in the forum - that Clodia's husband Quintus Metellus had died in suspicious circumstances, probably by poison, in 59 BC. Part of Cicero's speech, not given in the textbook, was a description of the tragic death of Metellus, and concluded with the words "ex hāc igitur domō progressa ista mulier dē venēnī celeritāte dīcere audēbit?" - "Will that woman, coming from this house, dare to speak of the speed of poison?". i.e. - She knows all about poisons and how to use them, and now she dares to accuse Caelius of using poison.
The "pax Pyrrhī" mentioned to in line 14 of section V refers to the time when Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, invaded Italy and defeated the Romans in the Battle of Heraclea (280 BC). Pyrrhus proposed a peace treaty with Roman, which the Roman senate was discussing. Appius Claudius Caecus was old and blind, but he made such a stirring speech to the senate, saying that he wished he were deaf as well as blind so that he should not hear such a disgraceful discussion, that the Senate refused the offer of peace and fought on. Pyrrhus died in Greece in 272 BC. A "Pyrrhic victory" is one in which the winning side has actually lost so heavily that the victory is no good to them.
Appius Claudius Caecus was censor in 312 BC, and had built the first of the Roman aqueducts - the "Aqua Appia" and the road to the south, the "Via Appia" or Appian way, which are still in existence today. Cicero contrasted the service of Caecus to Rome, with the self-serving acts of Clodius and Clodia.
In section VI, line 5 Cicero turned to Clodia and, without saying directly that he accused her, he listed a series of rumors which "accusers" might bring against her, and finished the case by saying that either she should admit that her charges against Caelius were false, or else admit that her own character made the charges ludicrous.
In 52 BC Caelius became a tribune and took part in the violence of that year as a supporter of Milo. He sided with Caesar against Pompey, but in 48 BC he did not get the senior praetorship of Rome which he wanted, so he fell out with Caesar and raised a riot in the Forum. As a consequence he was banned from public business by the Senate, and left Rome to try to foment a rebellion. He was killed by some of Caesar's soldiers.
Also in 52 BC Clodius was murdered by some of Milo's followers (Milo was a friend of Caelius and Cicero). In reprisal, Clodius' followers burned the Senate House.
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