006 - th Philippic

from Philippics · host Marcus Tullius Cicero

A philippic is a powerful and scathing speech directed at denouncing a political figure. This term originates from Demosthenes fierce attacks on Philip II of Macedon in the 4th century BCE. Cicero, inspired by Demosthenes, delivered his own series of orations against Mark Antony in 44 and 43 BC, aptly named the Philippics—also referred to as the Antonian Orations by Aulus Gellius. Ironically, these speeches were named after a series of warnings that failed to alert the Greeks about Philip, whose son, Alexander the Great, became one of historys most formidable conquerors. After Julius Caesars assassination, Ciceros obsession with undermining Antony blinded him to the looming threat of Octavian. In a remarkable burst of energy, the over-60 ex-consul produced 14 Philippics in just two years. Tragically, his relentless focus on Antony led to his downfall; in 43 BC, he was proscribed and executed, with his head and hands displayed in the forum as a grim warning to those who dared oppose the new Triumvirate of Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus.

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Life of Cicero, Vol. II Anthony Trollope Dive deep into the life of Marcus Tullius Cicero, a renowned orator, statesman, philosopher, and a prolific correspondent who emerged as a ‚Äònew man‚Äô during the chaotic last years of Romes republican government. This biography, penned by Anthony Trollope, a revered novelist who greatly admired Cicero, paints a vivid picture of Ciceros last years from BC 57-43. Experience the tumultuous events that marked these years; from the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, the death of Ciceros daughter Tullia, Caesars dictatorship and assassination, to Ciceros antagonism against Antony in the Philippics and his ultimate struggle for the republic. Trollope uses Ciceros own letters and speeches to craft this biography, adding separate chapters to discuss his moral essays, works on philosophy and rhetoric, and his religious beliefs. Also included is Trollopes own translation of Ciceros Dream of Scipio from the De re publica. This book is not just a biography, but a glimpse into Trollopes mind and The Life of Cicero, Volume 2 by Anthony Trollope Loyal Books Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43BC) was an orator, statesman, philosopher and prolific correspondent, who rose as a ‘new man’ in Rome in the turbulent last years of its republican government. Anthony Trollope, best known as a novelist, admired Cicero greatly and wrote this biography late in life in order to argue his virtues against authors who had granted him literary greatness but questioned his strength as a politician and as a man. He takes a personal approach, affording us an insight into his own mind and times as well as those of his subject. This second volume of two covers his last years, BC 57-43 and the personal and political upheavals that surrounded them: the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, the death of his daughter Tullia, Caesar’s dictatorship and assassination, Cicero’s antagonism against Antony in the Philippics and his final struggle for the republic. Having used Cicero’s letters and speeches to guide his biography, Trollope treats his other works (what he terms ‘mo Philippics, The by Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 - 43 BCE) LibriVox A philippic is a fiery, damning speech delivered to condemn a particular political actor. The term originates with Demosthenes, who delivered an attack on Philip II of Macedon in the 4th century BCE.Cicero consciously modeled his own attacks on Mark Antony, in 44 BC and 43 BC, on Demosthenes's speeches, and if the correspondence between M. Brutus and Cicero are genuine [ad Brut. ii 3.4, ii 4.2], at least the fifth and seventh speeches were referred to as the Philippics in Cicero's time. They were also called the Antonian Orations by Aulus Gellius. It is ironic that they were named after a series of speeches that failed to effectively warn the Greeks of the danger of Philip of Macedon whose son, Alexander the Great, went on to be one of the greatest conquerors of all time. After the death of Caesar, Cicero privately expressed regrets that the murderers of Caesar had not included Antony in their plot and became focused on discrediting Antony. Cicero even promoted illegal action The Philippics by Marcus Tullius Cicero Loyal Books A philippic is a fiery, damning speech delivered to condemn a particular political actor. The term originates with Demosthenes, who delivered an attack on Philip II of Macedon in the 4th century BCE.Cicero consciously modeled his own attacks on Mark Antony, in 44 BC and 43 BC, on Demosthenes’s speeches, and if the correspondence between M. Brutus and Cicero are genuine [ad Brut. ii 3.4, ii 4.2], at least the fifth and seventh speeches were referred to as the Philippics in Cicero’s time. They were also called the Antonian Orations by Aulus Gellius. It is ironic that they were named after a series of speeches that failed to effectively warn the Greeks of the danger of Philip of Macedon whose son, Alexander the Great, went on to be one of the greatest conquerors of all time. After the death of Caesar, Cicero privately expressed regrets that the murderers of Caesar had not included Antony in their plot and became focused on discrediting Antony. Cicero even promoted illegal action, such as

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This episode was published on February 26, 2026.

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