The Life and Influence of Clodia Metelli Throughout history, there have been countless women who have seized the opportunities afforded to them by fate to their advantage. Despite the oppression of patriarchal societies, these pioneers carved a place for themselves on the walls of the past. Clodia Metelli, who was a Roman aristocrat born in 95 BC, was one of most enigmatic female figures to emerge from ancient Rome. Clodia was a descendant of a powerful line of politicians, so she was soon swept
Influence of the Roman Theater on Cicero’s Oration Pro Caelia By Cicero’s oration in defense of M. Caelius Rufus shows many substantive and stylistic borrowings from the Roman Theater, particularly the comedies of the 2nd century b.c.e. This would scarcely seem remarkable to Cicero, to employ such devices is only to make use of the tools of his trade, as a practical and practicing rhetorician. In this case using the theater as a framing device to guide his audience’s response. So too would
In Catullus’ poems 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8, Catullus describes his torrid affair with Lesbia. Lesbia is typically identified as Clodia, a married woman with a documented history of scandals and affairs. Catullus is deeply infatuated with Lesbia in his early poems, expressing jealousy of her pet bird and attempting to hold Lesbia’s attention. In Catullus 8, Catullus has a dramatic change of heart. He begins speaking in third person, giving himself advice just as much as he critiques Lesbia. Though his tone
Cicero believed that a good orator must do three things in his speech: earn the favor of the audience, provide persuasive arguments, and move the audience with emotional appeals. In his defense of Marcus Caelius Rufus one finds an excellent example of Cicero’s work and through close examination can glean some additional information about what Cicero felt was needed in a good speech. With such scrutiny it becomes readily apparent that each of the three objectives need not be attained equally. Because
Hearing Catullus’s ramblings, Clodia jerked up and snapped her eyes on him. “What are you doing here?” she hissed. “You can’t be here. My husband could find you,” Clodia scolded Catullus as he emerged from his hiding spot. “I could not stay away, my love!” exclaimed Catullus, gazing upon Clodia adoringly. “A day without you is a day wasted. You are the ‘bright shining lady of my love!’ My heart would stop beating if I am apart from you,” he declared as he approached Clodia and sank to the
even kept young men and made up for their fathers stinginess by paying for them” (Pro Caelio 38, pg 144). Clodia was known throughout Rome for having many sexual relationships outside of wedlock with countless men of Rome. She is even considered by many to be the famed Lesbia, the lover of the famed Roman neoteric poet Catullus. Cicero is setting the stage for his denouncement of Clodia by styling her as a women that is a direct contrast to what a Roman women should be. We are given countless
Catullus is renowned for his incredibly emotional poetry, specifically his love poetry. Though not mentioned by name in many, most of his poems are devoted to Lesbia, his girlfriend/ ex-girlfriend (depending on which poem you’re reading). His impassioned poetry is much different from the epic poetry that was so common in his day. Instead of spinning long, winding tales of the gods and heroes and whatnot (though he does dabble in epic poetry on occasion), Catullus prefers to discuss his own life and
Romans left behind many literary and historical works that provide insight into the ancient civilization. Roman literature prospered under Augustus, but was lost with the fall of the Western empire. Virgil and Catullus, famous Roman poets, lived in Golden Age of Roman literature. Historians and rhetoricians, like Livy, lived during the later Republican period. Romans also built huge libraries to hold all their works and works from conquered territories (“ANCIENT ROMAN LITERATURE AND POETRY”). Gauis
idea perfectly applies to current times when old conservative moral ways are disregarded for the sake of personal happiness and satisfaction. According to Richard A. Bauman, author of Women and Politics in Ancient Rome, the poet had an affair with Clodia, a senator's wife, and "She was almost certainly the ‘Lesbia’ who drove Catullus to distraction" (Bauman 69). That is why the author urges his love interest to disregard the opinion of the society. The reason for such a call to live in the moment
The Softer Side of Catullus Exposed in Poem 5 This paper begins by discussing Catullus’ genuine love of life as expressed in poem 5 and introduced in the first line. It considers poem 5 as rather less cynical than many of Catullus’ others, and therefore uniquely revealing. It then examines the first triad, which expresses defiance of convention, and the second, which expresses the brevity of life and the urgency of love. The enumeration of kisses is then discussed in particular detail with
The Author Edith Hamilton was born on August 12, 1867 in Dresden, Germany while her mother was visiting relatives. Hamilton started to study Latin at the age of seven, memorized passages from the Bible and could also recite poetry. Even as a young girl, she was a "natural storyteller." She was determined to get a good education. After receiving her B.A. and M.A. from Bryn Mawr College in 1894 she studied the classics in Germany. From 1896 to 1922 she was the headmistress of the Bryn Mawr School