Episode 115 – The Anatomy of a Murder
Virginia has been murdered by her father in the Forum in an attempt to protect her from Appius Claudius. What will this act mean for Rome?
First published
07/15/2021
Genres:
history
culture
education
Listen to this episode
Summary
CW: The accounts of Virginia include paedophilic desire and violence against women. Virginia has been murdered by her own father in the Forum in an attempt to protect her from the decemvir Appius Claudius. As far as Virginius and most other Roman dads are concerned, death is better than dishonour. What will this act mean for Virginius and his family? How will it impact Appius Claudius? Tune in to find out as we venture once more into the rule of the Second Decemvirate and deal with the aftermath of one of the crises of the Conflict of the Orders. Looking to get up to sped on Verginia's story so far - it begins here. Yes, you're right, there's a variety of ways to spell her name! Episode 115 - The Anatomy of a Murder Charlotte Mary Yong 1880. The Death of Verginia. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Chaos in the City Even though this is a key moment in the conflict between patricians and plebeians, there are still some intriguing differences in the accounts provided by Livy and Dionysius. In Dr Rad’s account, Verginius is quick to fight his way out of Rome in the midst of the chaos with a band of supporters, leaving Verginia’s fiancée Icilius and her uncle Numitorius to display the body of the murdered girl to the crowd. In a scene very reminiscent of Lucretia’s body being used to incite the overthrow of the monarchy, Verginia’s corpse is used as a symbol of the corruption of the Second Decemvirate and the crowd starts to get dangerous. It seems that they may also have some allies – the disgruntled patricians who also despise the decemvirs. The leaders of this faction include Valerius and Horatius, and they are getting a lot of love from the citizens for standing up to Appius Claudius and his cronies. Meanwhile, in Dionysius’ account, there is a lot more focus on the fate of Verginia’s body. When Appius tries to have her removed from the Forum, the people claim her body for their own and stage a funeral procession for the murdered girl. Livy and Dionysius clearly have included different details regarding the aftermath of her death, but in both accounts, she is clearly a symbol in life and death. These stories highlight how women are used by male writers to draw attention to the virtues and vices of the men around them. In this sense, these histories were not striving for an analytical and objective account, but one that promoted a desirable ideology for their own time. It is very clear that these were histories designed to inspire those who read them to act in ways that would benefit the state and keep order. A Real Cliffhanger In spite of their differences, both Livy and Dionysius end up leading us to the same point. We switch from events in Rome to Verginius’ return to his army encampment. Covered in the blood of his daughter and still clutching the murder weapon, he makes a rousing speech in both accounts, trying to persuade his fellow-soldiers that the real criminal in this sordid affair is Appius Claudius. Will the soldiers support him in seeking vengeance against the decemvir? Or will the tyrannous rule of the ten continue? Gabriel François Doyen c. 1757. La Mort de Virginie (The Death of Virginia) Our Players The Decemvirs * Appius Claudius. Ap. f. M. n. Crassus Inregillensis Sabinus Pat – Cos. 471, 451* Spurius Oppius Cornicen* Quintus Fabius M. f. M. n. Vibulanus Pat – Cos. 467, 465, 459* Quintus Poetelius Libo Visolus* Manius Rabuleius* Mar...
Duration
Parent Podcast
Podcast Archives - The Partial Historians
View PodcastSimilar Episodes
The Partial Recap - 420s BCE
Release Date: 07/13/2023
Description: The Partial Historians recap the major events in Ancient Rome during the 420s BCE. The post The Partial Recap – 420s BCE appeared first on The Partial Historians.
Explicit: No
The Partial Recap – 410s BCE
Release Date: 12/07/2023
Description: The Partial Historians recap what the ancient sources have recorded for the 410s BCE in Ancient Rome. The post The Partial Recap – 410s BCE appeared first on The Partial Historians.
Explicit: No
*Special Episode* Totalus Rankium and The Partial Historians on Augustus
Release Date: 02/20/2019
Description: In this special episode we get together with Rob and Jamie from Totalus Rankium to discuss Augustus - hear all the highs and lows here! The post *Special Episode* Totalus Rankium and The Partial Historians on Augustus appeared first on The Partial Historians.
Explicit: No
Special Episode - Our Top Ten at Ten
Release Date: 03/01/2023
Description: We're celebrating ten years of The Partial Historians podcast with our top ten moments from Roman history so far! The post Bonus Episode – Our Top Ten at Ten appeared first on The Partial Historians.
Explicit: No
Similar Podcasts
Pompeii Archives - The Partial Historians
Release Date: 04/11/2021
Authors: The Partial Historians
Description: Dr Rad and Dr G explore all things ancient Rome. With source analysis, interviews with experts, and looking at how the ancient world appears in popular culture, we take you you through the sources for ancient Rome while having a good laugh along the way. Dr Rad is an expert on Kubrick's Spartacus and Dr G is an expert on the Vestal Virgins.
Explicit: No
Spartacus Archives - The Partial Historians
Release Date: 04/07/2021
Authors: The Partial Historians
Description: Dr Rad and Dr G explore all things ancient Rome. With source analysis, interviews with experts, and looking at how the ancient world appears in popular culture, we take you you through the sources for ancient Rome while having a good laugh along the way. Dr Rad is an expert on Kubrick's Spartacus and Dr G is an expert on the Vestal Virgins.
Explicit: No
The Partial Historians
Release Date: 09/23/2020
Authors: The Partial Historians
Description: Dr Rad and Dr G explore all things ancient Rome. With source analysis, interviews with experts, and looking at how the ancient world appears in popular culture, we take you you through the sources for ancient Rome while having a good laugh along the way. Dr Rad is an expert on Kubrick's Spartacus and Dr G is an expert on the Vestal Virgins.
Explicit: No
The Partial Historians
Release Date: 01/05/2022
Authors: The Partial Historians
Description: Dr Radford and Dr Greenfield are two historians on a mission to spread the word about Ancient Rome! We discuss, spar, and laugh our way through different aspects of the Roman world. We'd love for you to join us on this journey of exploration!
Explicit: No
The Roman Emperors Archives - The Partial Historians
Release Date: 04/12/2021
Authors: The Partial Historians
Description: Dr Rad and Dr G explore all things ancient Rome. With source analysis, interviews with experts, and looking at how the ancient world appears in popular culture, we take you you through the sources for ancient Rome while having a good laugh along the way. Dr Rad is an expert on Kubrick's Spartacus and Dr G is an expert on the Vestal Virgins.
Explicit: No
Women in Rome Archives - The Partial Historians
Release Date: 04/12/2021
Authors: The Partial Historians
Description: Dr Rad and Dr G explore all things ancient Rome. With source analysis, interviews with experts, and looking at how the ancient world appears in popular culture, we take you you through the sources for ancient Rome while having a good laugh along the way. Dr Rad is an expert on Kubrick's Spartacus and Dr G is an expert on the Vestal Virgins.
Explicit: No
Rome on Film Archives - The Partial Historians
Release Date: 04/08/2021
Authors: The Partial Historians
Description: Dr Rad and Dr G explore all things ancient Rome. With source analysis, interviews with experts, and looking at how the ancient world appears in popular culture, we take you you through the sources for ancient Rome while having a good laugh along the way. Dr Rad is an expert on Kubrick's Spartacus and Dr G is an expert on the Vestal Virgins.
Explicit: No
Back in the Day
Release Date: 08/12/2020
Authors: Ken Fieth
Description: Back in the Day Podcast is a series of interviews with historians, related to Tennessee and Middle Tennessee history. It's produced by Metropolitan Archives of Nashville & Davidson County.
Explicit: No
American History Untucked
Release Date: 09/01/2020
Description: The show is a conversation about and by American history and American historians. It’s about history, but it’s also about the historian’s background, their experiences, what they’ve learned doing history. It’s about time in the archives, about the writing process, about teaching, doing public history, engaging with all different kinds of audiences. It’s about American historians broadly defined – mostly academic historians, but also archivists, public historians, documentary film makers, and historians outside the ivory tower. It’s about what makes history interesting to us and how we try to share that with our readers, students, and other audiences.
Explicit: No
Nashville Retrospect
Release Date: 09/10/2020
Authors: Allen Forkum
Description: The official podcast of The Nashville Retrospect, the monthly newspaper devoted to stories from Nashville's past. Editor and host Allen Forkum interviews local historians and people who experienced the city’s history firsthand. He also investigates audio artifacts from area archives and relates fascinating articles from old Nashville newspapers.
Explicit: No
CRAFTING SMILES WITH PROSTHODONTICS
Release Date: 04/18/2021
Authors: Ara Mae Galvan
Description: CONDITIONS TO MILITATE FOR THE FIXED PARTIAL DENTURE
Explicit: No