1. "Syllabus"-- a word from Cicero Letter to Atticus, Antium, April, 56 B.C. “Tyranniohas made a wonderfully good arrangement of my books, the remains of which are better than I had expected. Still, I wish you would send me a couple of your library slaves for Tyrannio to employ as gluers. . . and tell them to get some fine parchment to make title-pieces, which you Greeks, I think, call sillybi. But all this is only if not inconvenient to you.”
2. Other Words Cicero Inspired Appetite Quality Individual Notion Comprehension Infinity Popular Definition Difference Element Propriety Science Species Vacuum Image -- from Marshal Fishwick, Cicero, Classicism and Popular Culture (2007)
3. Classical Pronunciation In Translation Marcus Tullius “Kick-ero” Roma Marcus Antonius GnaeusPompeius Magnus Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius OctaviusThurinus) “Sis-ero” Rome Mark Antony Pompey Octavian Cicero and His Influences --See Everitt’s biography, p. ix
5. A Brief Cicero Chronology (106-43 BC) 106 Born in Arpinum 87-86 Studies in Rome 80 1st major speech: Pro RoscioAmerino 79-77 Studies in Athens 75 Enters politics, quaestor in Sicily 67 Elected praetor 63 As consul, suppresses Catiline’s conspiracy 59 First Triumvirate formed—Ceasar, Pompey, Crassus 58 Cicero indicted by Clodius; temporarily banished 57-51 Writes De Oratoreand De Re Publica 53 Finds strong support, elected augur 50 Governor of Sicily 49 Civil War; supports Pompey against Ceasar 48 Pompey defeated by Pharsalus; Caesar forgives Cicero 47-44 Full time writing; Tusculum years 45 Death of daughter Tullia 44 Assassination of Caesar, dominance of Mark Antony; Cicero denounces Antony in the Philippics 43 Cicero assassinated by Anthony’s men. His severed head and hand hung in the Forum. Bloody political struggles continue…
8. Terms for Roman Class Structure Eques – Knight. A “second tier” of elite just below the senatorial order. Patricians – An aristocrat class. Most senators were patricians. Plebs – Citizens who were either poor or were non-patricians who were not allowed to vote about matters of war and peace. Provinces – Administrative units of the Roman empire.
9. Terms for Roman Officials Quaestor – “The man who asks questions.” An official responsible for fiscal administration who also investigated murder cases. First mentioned in the Laws of the Twelve Tables. Praetor – “The man who goes before the others,” a civil official responsible for administration of justice. Minimum age 30. Eight (8) bodyguards. Consul – Similar to President or Prime Minister: leader of the Senate, commander of the Roman army, and holder of the highest judicial of authority in the system. Minimum age 43; term limit of one year. 12 bodygurards. Dictator – Roman magistrate with extraordinary powers appointed during an emergency. 6 month term limit. 24 bodyguards.
10. Terms in Roman Religion Augur – A priest and official who interpreted the will of the gods by the flight of birds, known as “taking the auspices.” Pontifexmaximus– The Roman high priest. Interpreted omens with the 18 Vestal virgins in order to maintain the paxdeorum, peace with the gods. Calends – First day of the month, start of the new moon. On that day, pontiffs announced state days for the month and debtors had to pay their debts, as a sort of accounts book. Dates were named relative to Calends, Nones, or Ides, for example, three days past Calends would be the 4th of the month.
