Who was Cicero’s regina?

  • Jane Bellemore University of Newcastle (New South Wales)
Keywords: Cicero’s letters, regina, Clodia Metelli, Transtiberine property

Abstract

The paper questions the assumption that the woman referred to as regina in Cicero’s letters to Atticus of 44 BC is Cleopatra VII. The paper argues that there are historical grounds for doubting that Cleopatra and her son were in Rome in 44 BC, and it suggests that the term regina is more likely to be a pseudonym than a title. By consideration of other nicknames used by Cicero, the paper posits Clodia Metelli as the regina. The paper then analyses Cicero’s comments about the regina in the light of this new identification and concludes that Cicero, having struggled in 45 BC to find a suitable property near Rome to serve as a personal retreat and to house a shrine to his recently deceased daughter Tullia, engaged in negotiations to buy Clodia’s Transtiberine horti in early 44, but withdrew his offer after a personal disagreement with Clodia. In addition, Cicero’s reference to Caesar ille (Att. 14, 20, 2), previously identified as Cleopatra’s son, should be understood as mocking Octavius’ recent adoption of Caesar’s name.

 

L’article remet en question l’hypothèse selon laquelle la femme appelée regina dans les lettres de Cicéron à Atticus de 44 av. J.-C. serait Cléopâtre VII. L’article revendique qu’il y a des raisons historiques de douter de la présence de Cléopâtre et de son fils à Rome en 44 av. J.-C., et suggère que le terme regina a plus de chances d’être un pseudonyme qu’un titre. En prenant en considération d’autres surnoms utilisés par Cicéron, l’article propose Clodia Metelli comme étant la regina. L’article analyse ensuite les commentaires de Cicéron au sujet de la regina à la lumière de cette nouvelle identification et conclut que Cicéron, ayant lutté en 45 avant J.-C. pour trouver une propriété convenable près de Rome pouvant servir de lieu de retraite personnel et abriter un sanctuaire pour sa fille Tullia récemment décédée, s’engagea dans des négociations en vue d’acheter les horti de Clodia dans la région Transtibérine au début de 44, mais retira son offre après un différend personnel avec elle. De plus, la référence de Cicéron à Caesar ille (Att. 14, 20, 2), précédemment identifié comme le fils de Cléopâtre, doit être comprise comme se moquant de l’adoption récente du nom de César par Octave.

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Author Biography

Jane Bellemore, University of Newcastle (New South Wales)

Jane Bellemore (jane.bellemore@newcastle.edu.au) completed her undergraduate studies and Master’s thesis in Classics and Ancient History at the University
of Western Australia, and then undertook a Doctorate in History at University College, University of London. Jane taught Ancient History, Latin and Greek at the
Australian National University, at the University of Western Australia, and at the University of Newcastle (New South Wales), where she is currently a conjoint senior
lecturer. Jane has published a book on Nicolaus of Damascus (Life of Augustus), and she has published many articles on a range of topics relating to the Late Roman
Republic and Early Empire. She is currently working on a book on the treatment of civilians in Roman warfare, due to be finished in 2019.

Published
2019-07-15
How to Cite
Bellemore, J. (2019). Who was Cicero’s regina?. Ciceroniana On Line, 3(1), 73-98. https://doi.org/10.13135/2532-5353/3521