Episode 114 – The Tale of Verginia

CW: The accounts of Verginia include paedophilic desire, violence against womenThe story of Verginia is an achingly tragic tale central to understanding the Second Decemvirate. Both Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus go into some detail about what happens and how it unfolds and we'll explore both accounts to compare and contrast them.Episode 114 – The Tale of VerginiaReading our Sources on VerginiaDr Rad takes us through the complexities of thinking about Livy's context and how that might influence his presentation of the material. Dr G explores the connection between the Latin term virgo (virgin) and her name Verginia. There's plenty of parallels that will emerge between Verginia's story and the story of Lucretia, whose fate seals the demise of the Roman monarchy.What Horror…Verginia is the daughter of a well-known centurion who is fighting on one of Rome's frontiers. But conflict emerges when Appius Claudius decides that he wants her for himself. He seems heedless to reason or morality when it comes to Verginia and this leads him to engage in a set of behaviours that are appalling.What to listen out forVerginia's story is one that involves a number of strange and dangerous concepts:Claiming people from the street as slavesConvoluted plans to remove a young woman from her familyLegal arguments around the claim that someone is a slaveArguments for how to protect women's virginityWhat does it mean to be a citizen?Official summons and strategies to foil summonsGroups of women akin to a tragic chorusA butcher stand and the connection of Venus with the Cloaca MaximaOur PlayersDecemvirsAppius Claudius. Ap. f. M. n. Crassus Inregillensis Sabinus Pat – Cos. 471, 451Spurius Oppius CornicenQuintus Fabius M. f. M. n. Vibulanus Pat – Cos. 467, 465, 459Quintus Poetelius Libo VisolusManius RabuleiusMarcus Cornelius – f. Ser. n. Maluginenesis PatLucius Minucius P. f. M. n. Esquilinus Augurinus Pat – Cos. 458Marcus? Sergius Esquilinus PatTitus Antonius MerendaCaeso Duillius Longus?Appius Claudius' clientMarcus ClaudiusThe Verginii and SupportersVerginiaVerginius – father of VerginiaNumitoria – mother of VerginiaPublius Numitorius – Verginia's maternal uncleLucius(?) Icilius – former tribune of the plebs and Verginia's betrothedOur SourcesDr Rad reads Livy 3.44-48Dr G reads Dionysius of Halicarnassus Rom. Ant. 11.28-37Joshel, S. 2002. ‘The Body Female and the Body Politic: Livy’s Lucretia and Verginia.’ In Sexuality and gender in the classical world: readings and sources, edited by Sandra R. Joshel & Laura K. McClure, 163-190. Oxford: Blackwell.Keegan, P. 2021. Livy’s Women. New York: Oxon.Sound CreditsAdditional music and sound in this episode includes an original composition for our podcast by the fabulous Bettina Joy de GuzmanHeinrich Friedrich Fuger – The Death of Virginia. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user Jbribeiro1For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/Support the showPatreonKo-FiRead our booksRex: The Seven Kings of RomeYour Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.