Vestal Virgins, Sibyls, and Matrons: Women in Roman Religion

Appendix A. Ancient Authors

appian, end of first century–ca. 160s ce Appian was born in Alexandria. He lived in Rome where he befriended Marcus Cornelius Fronto, the teacher of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. Appian was a trained lawyer and, through Fronto’s connection with the emperor Antoninus Pius, became a procurator (member of the empire’s civil administration). Appian wrote a history of Rome from its foundation to the time of Trajan. gaius julius caesar, 100–44 bce Caesar was born in Rome. He was the most important and prolific statesman of the Late Republic. Caesar’s poems and treatise on grammar (De Analogia) survive only in small fragments. On the other hand, his Commentaries (Commentarii), On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico), and On the Civil War (De Bello Civili) are of all the memoirs of antiquity the only extant ones. In the seven books of On the Gallic War, Caesar recounts his campaigns against and policies toward Celts in Gaul and Britain and Germans . Aulus Hirtius, consul of 43 BCE, wrote an additional eighth book that was to bridge the time between the Gallic War, 59/8–52 BCE, and the Civil War, 49–48 BCE. On the Civil War in three books is incomplete. It is our prime source for the war between Pompey and Caesar. Just like On The Gallic War, however, it is a piece of political propaganda as well as justification. Caesar’s style is marked by its clarity and simplicity. (lucius) cassius dio, ca. 164–after 229 ce Dio’s family came from Nicaea (Iznik in Turkey). Dio had a successful career as senator , which culminated in the proconsulship of Africa and the governorship of Dalmatia appendix a ancient authors vestal virgins, sibyls, and matrons 128 and Pannonia Superior. Dio was consul together with the emperor Severus Alexander in 229. Dio’s history of Rome covers the city’s foundation down to the year of his own consulship. marcus porcius cato, 234–149 bce Cato was born in Tusculum, southeast of Rome. He had a distinguished military and administrative career. Cato was a “new man” (novus homo), the first in his family to hold public office. He obtained the consulship in 195 BCE and the censorship in 184 BCE. Cato spoke out against Hellenism and embraced Roman traditions. Unlike his contemporaries, he wrote in Latin. Cato is the originator of Latin prose writing. The Origins (Origines) dealt with Rome’s and Italy’s early history; very little of this work has survived. His On Agriculture (De agri cultura) is the oldest surviving Latin prose piece. This work gives us information about Roman life and economy of the second century BCE. Cato was the first to publish his speeches as well as write on rhetoric. His style was straightforward and plain. In Cicero’s time, 150 of Cato’s speeches were published. Again, only fragments survive. gaius valerius catullus, ca. 85–ca. 54 bce Catullus was born in Verona. He is the one novus poeta (“new poet”) whose complete work, 116 poems, survived (in one manuscript). The only record of Catullus’ public service is that he served on the staff of Gaius Memmius, Lucretius’ patron. marcus tullius cicero, 106–43 bce Cicero was born southeast of Rome in Arpinum. He was a successful lawyer and politician who reached the consulship in 63 BCE. Cicero was a “new man” (novus homo). As consul, he suppressed the Catiline conspiracy, an attempt by Sergius Catilina to gain the consulship on a program of debt-reduction and rallying Rome’s plebs (the general body of citizens, the commons), and was hailed “father of his country” (pater patriae). Consequently, Cicero was exiled for his actions against Catiline and his followers . Pompey’s engagement brought him back to Rome after one and a half years. Cicero served as governor of Cilicia 51–50 BCE, but he never regained the status he had as consul. Politics were shaped by Gaius Julius Caesar and Pompey, with the former emerging as dictator. After the assassination of Caesar in 44 BCE, Cicero emerged briefly in a position of political importance only to be assassinated on behest of Marc Antony whom he had attacked in fourteen speeches (Philippics). The literary works of Cicero, besides establishing the norm for Latin literary prose, are our most important sources for the Late Republic. Fifty-seven speeches dealing 128 vestal virgins, sibyls, and matrons appendix...