Marcus Tullius Cicero, Pro Roscio Amerino [On Behalf of Roscius of Ameria]

Kathryn Tempest (University of Roehampton)

Ed. by William John Dominik, University of Otago
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: Anca Dan (École Practique de Hautes Études PSL), Martine Diepenbroek (University of Johannesburg), William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Victoria Fendel (University of Oxford), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Guendalina Daniela Maria Taietti (University of Liverpool), Jula Wildberger (American University of Paris)

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Rhetoric and Oratory

Dates

First circulation or publication 80

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Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire) (Country of Origin)

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The

Pro Roscio Amerino

is the published version of a speech Cicero delivered in 80 BC, when he successfully defended Sextus Roscius of Ameria on the charge of parricide. Cicero was only 26 years of age at the time and it was his first appearance in a criminal suit. Moreover, it was a high-profile case: it was the first trial to be conducted in the newly-established court appointed for trials under the Cornelian law on poisoning and murder. Cicero refers to the excitement generated by the crowds that had assembled to watch (Cicero

Pro Roscio Amerino

11)

Indeed, looking back on this speech later in life, Cicero believed that it was the first to launch his oratorical career, for many other cases followed in quick succession (Cicero,

Brutus

312).

While we only have Cicero’s version of

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1246 words

Citation: Tempest, Kathryn. "Pro Roscio Amerino". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 14 June 2010 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=20484, accessed 22 November 2024.]

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Marcus Tullius Cicero, Pro Roscio Amerino [On Behalf of Roscius of Ameria]

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