Clodia
Clodia, a notable figure from ancient Rome, is primarily recognized through the writings of hostile sources, particularly the orator Cicero. A member of the distinguished Claudian family, she was the daughter of Appius Claudius Pulcher and Caecilia Metella Balearica. Clodia was married twice, first to her cousin Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer and later to Lucius Licinius Lucullus. Her involvement with the poet Catullus, who immortalized her as "Lesbia" in his love poetry, marks a significant chapter in her life, although their relationship ended following her husband's death. Subsequently, Clodia engaged with Marcus Caelius Rufus, which led to a high-profile legal battle when she accused him of attempted poisoning and failing to repay a loan.
Cicero's defense of Caelius against Clodia's accusations turned her into a controversial figure, with him portraying her as a notorious woman in Rome. Despite the negative portrayal, Clodia represents a departure from traditional Roman female ideals, being well-educated and influential as a literary patroness. She owned significant property, including a villa in Baiae, indicating her active role in Roman society and politics. Clodia's life reflects the complexities of women's roles in ancient Rome, moving beyond the expected confines of her time.
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Clodia
Related civilization:Republican Rome
Major role/position: Lover of Catullus, political influence
Life
Most of Clodia’s (KLOHD-ee-uh) life is known only through hostile sources such as Cicero. It is known that she descended from a famous Roman consular family that included Appius Claudius Caecus, censor in 312 b.c.e. Appius was famous because he was instrumental in the peace agreement with Pyrrhus and initiated the construction of aqueducts and the paving of the Appian Way.
Clodia married twice. By 62 b.c.e., she had married her first cousin, Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer, and after his death, she married Lucius Licinius Lucullus. In 59 b.c.e., Clodia met the twenty-seven-year-old poet Catullus, who wrote a series of love poems celebrating her as Lesbia. However, upon the sudden death of her husband (59 b.c.e.), Clodia left Catullus in favor of Marcus Caelius Rufus, who was even younger than Catullus. After Caelius left Clodia, she sued him in 56 b.c.e. for attempting to poison her and for failure to return a sum of money she had lent him. Cicero willingly took over Rufus’s defense against these charges because it gave Cicero the opportunity to attack Clodia’s brother, Publius Clodius Pulcher. Clodia’s brother had led attacks against Cicero, resulting in Cicero’s temporary exile. In his defense speech, Cicero portrays Clodia as Rome’s most famous prostitute, although he as well as his friend Titus Pomponius Atticus had used Clodia as a messenger in their dialogues with Clodius. Furthermore, Atticus gathered information through her about Clodius’s plans, which helped Cicero gauge his own political fortunes.
Influence
Clodia is an example of first century b.c.e. Roman women who chose to differ from the model matron propagandized by men. She was well educated and a literary patroness. Through her brother, Clodia played an indirect role in Roman politics. She owned property in Rome and a villa in Baiae on the Bay of Naples. The frequent gatherings there made her easy prey to the character assassination in Cicero’s speech and subsequent treatments of her by other writers. She was probably still alive in 45 b.c.e.
Bibliography
Cantarella, Eva. Pandora’s Daughters. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987.
Cicero. Pro Caelio. Loeb Classical Library 13. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1970.
Gruen, Erich S. The Last Generation of the Roman Republic. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1974.