Scipio Africanus represents over the centuries – thanks to Cicero, Livius and Petrarch – the perfect leader. His sexual continentia is reflected in a moderate management of power. But an anti-scipionic tradition circulated in Rome, aimed at compromising his reputation. The rhetoric had a large repertoire of arguments for the demolition of an opponent, based on the emphasis on character tendencies or on the insinuation of doubts about morality. This technique is used by Cicero against his adversaries, in his intense political and oratory activity, and above all against Catiline. Condemning the sexual perversions of Catiline and his amici, Cicero presents himself as a defender of an upright ethics, strengthens his political action and gets rid of those who oppose it.

L'argumentum a continentia alla prova dell'invettiva da Scipione a Catilina

Antonella Tedeschi
2021-01-01

Abstract

Scipio Africanus represents over the centuries – thanks to Cicero, Livius and Petrarch – the perfect leader. His sexual continentia is reflected in a moderate management of power. But an anti-scipionic tradition circulated in Rome, aimed at compromising his reputation. The rhetoric had a large repertoire of arguments for the demolition of an opponent, based on the emphasis on character tendencies or on the insinuation of doubts about morality. This technique is used by Cicero against his adversaries, in his intense political and oratory activity, and above all against Catiline. Condemning the sexual perversions of Catiline and his amici, Cicero presents himself as a defender of an upright ethics, strengthens his political action and gets rid of those who oppose it.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11369/401836
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact