Caecilia Metella was daughter of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer and Clodia. She was an infamous woman in Rome during the late Republic and a celebrity of sorts.[1]
She was the daughter of the consulQuintus Caecilius Metellus Celer, while her mother Clodia was a notorious adulterer and possibly the inspiration for the figure of Lesbia in poetry.[2] Caecilia seems to have taken after her mother.[3]
Marriage and scandalsedit
In 53 BC, Metella Celer was married to Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, a conservative politician, allied to her father's family. Like her mother, Metella did not content herself with a simple married life. Briefly after the wedding she started an affair with Publius Cornelius Dolabella, a man of the opposite political spectrum. Spinther divorced her in 45 BC in the midst of a huge scandal.[a]Cicero bitterly discusses the affair in his letters, because at the time, his daughter Tullia was Dolabella's wife.
Metella went back to her family in absolute disgrace. She was still in her twenties and very beautiful. Her cousins did not hesitate in using her for political conspiracies. Metella seduced several of Julius Caesar's intimate friends, in order to get the family name cleared after the defeat of the Optimates in the battles of Pharsalus and Munda. Amongst her non-political lovers is the poet Ticida, who wrote about Metella, giving her the name of "Perilla". Her last known lover was one Aesopo, a wealthy member of the equites, who supported the Caecilii Metelli for a few years.[1] Her date of death is unknown.
^In the past it was believed by some that she was the wife of Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther the Younger,[4] the son of her husband, but this is not generally supported today.
^ abJuster, A. M.; Braund, Susanna (2012). The Satires of Horace. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 139. ISBN9780812222098.
^Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association. University of California: American Philological Association. 1939. p. 215.
^Churchill, Laurie J.; Brown, Phyllis R.; Jeffrey, Jane E. (2013). Women Writing Latin: Women Writing Latin in Roman Antiquity, Late Antiquity, and the Early Christian Era. Women Writers of the World. Routledge. ISBN9781136742910.
^"A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology: By various writers. Ed. By William Smith. Illustr. By numerous engravings on wood. In 3 vols". 1872.
November 23, 2023
caecilia, metella, daughter, celer, caecilia, metella, daughter, quintus, caecilius, metellus, celer, clodia, infamous, woman, rome, during, late, republic, celebrity, sorts, contents, biography, early, life, marriage, scandals, also, notes, referencesbiograph. Caecilia Metella was daughter of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer and Clodia She was an infamous woman in Rome during the late Republic and a celebrity of sorts 1 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Marriage and scandals 2 See also 3 Notes 4 ReferencesBiography editEarly life edit She was the daughter of the consul Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer while her mother Clodia was a notorious adulterer and possibly the inspiration for the figure of Lesbia in poetry 2 Caecilia seems to have taken after her mother 3 Marriage and scandals edit In 53 BC Metella Celer was married to Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther a conservative politician allied to her father s family Like her mother Metella did not content herself with a simple married life Briefly after the wedding she started an affair with Publius Cornelius Dolabella a man of the opposite political spectrum Spinther divorced her in 45 BC in the midst of a huge scandal a Cicero bitterly discusses the affair in his letters because at the time his daughter Tullia was Dolabella s wife Metella went back to her family in absolute disgrace She was still in her twenties and very beautiful Her cousins did not hesitate in using her for political conspiracies Metella seduced several of Julius Caesar s intimate friends in order to get the family name cleared after the defeat of the Optimates in the battles of Pharsalus and Munda Amongst her non political lovers is the poet Ticida who wrote about Metella giving her the name of Perilla Her last known lover was one Aesopo a wealthy member of the equites who supported the Caecilii Metelli for a few years 1 Her date of death is unknown See also editList of Roman women Women in ancient Rome Caecilii Metelli family treeNotes edit In the past it was believed by some that she was the wife of Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther the Younger 4 the son of her husband but this is not generally supported today References edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Smith William 1870 Caecilia or Metella 6 In Smith William ed Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology Vol 2 p 526 a b Juster A M Braund Susanna 2012 The Satires of Horace University of Pennsylvania Press p 139 ISBN 9780812222098 Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association University of California American Philological Association 1939 p 215 Churchill Laurie J Brown Phyllis R Jeffrey Jane E 2013 Women Writing Latin Women Writing Latin in Roman Antiquity Late Antiquity and the Early Christian Era Women Writers of the World Routledge ISBN 9781136742910 A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology By various writers Ed By William Smith Illustr By numerous engravings on wood In 3 vols 1872 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Caecilia Metella daughter of Celer amp oldid 1119534331, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
