. Cicero’s Rhetorical Attack on Clodia (7) In the late Republic, the orator Cicero engaged in a bitter feud with the wealthy and influential Clodia. During the trial of Caelius, Cicero launched a devastating character assassination, branding Clodia the "P
Season 8 Episode 581 · Mar 15, 01:46 AM
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. Cicero’s Rhetorical Attack on Clodia (7)
In the late Republic, the orator Ciceroengaged in a bitter feud with the wealthy and influential Clodia. During the trial of Caelius, Cicero launched a devastating character assassination, branding Clodia the "Palatine Medea" and accusing her of prostitution and murder. Southon emphasizes that because women were barred from speaking in court, Clodia was defenseless against these public insinuations. Cicero even edited his own speeches before passing them to history to ensure his version of events remained the dominant narrative, regardless of the truth of his claims. (8)
In the late Republic, the orator Ciceroengaged in a bitter feud with the wealthy and influential Clodia. During the trial of Caelius, Cicero launched a devastating character assassination, branding Clodia the "Palatine Medea" and accusing her of prostitution and murder. Southon emphasizes that because women were barred from speaking in court, Clodia was defenseless against these public insinuations. Cicero even edited his own speeches before passing them to history to ensure his version of events remained the dominant narrative, regardless of the truth of his claims. (8)