Episode 114 – The Tale of Verginia

CW: The accounts of Verginia include paedophilic desire, violence against women

The story of Verginia is an achingly tragic tale central to understanding the Second Decemvirate. Both Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus go into some detail about what happens and how it unfolds and we'll explore both accounts to compare and contrast them.

Reading our Sources on Verginia

Dr Rad takes us through the complexities of thinking about Livy's context and how that might influence his presentation of the material. Dr G explores the connection between the Latin term virgo (virgin) and her name Verginia. There's plenty of parallels that will emerge between Verginia's story and the story of Lucretia, whose fate seals the demise of the Roman monarchy.

What Horror…

Verginia is the daughter of a well-known centurion who is fighting on one of Rome's frontiers. But conflict emerges when Appius Claudius decides that he wants her for himself. He seems heedless to reason or morality when it comes to Verginia and this leads him to engage in a set of behaviours that are appalling.

What to listen out for

Verginia's story is one that involves a number of strange and dangerous concepts:

Claiming people from the street as slaves
Convoluted plans to remove a young woman from her family
Legal arguments around the claim that someone is a slave
Arguments for how to protect women's virginity
What does it mean to be a citizen?
Official summons and strategies to foil summons
Groups of women akin to a tragic chorus
A butcher stand and the connection of Venus with the Cloaca Maxima

Our Players

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
Marcus Cornelius – f. Ser. n. Maluginenesis Pat
Lucius Minucius P. f. M. n. Esquilinus Augurinus Pat – Cos. 458
Marcus? Sergius Esquilinus Pat
Titus Antonius Merenda
Caeso Duillius Longus?

Appius Claudius' client

Marcus Claudius

The Verginii and Supporters

Verginia
Verginius – father of Verginia
Numitoria – mother of Verginia
Publius Numitorius – Verginia's maternal uncle
Lucius(?) Icilius – former tribune of the plebs and Verginia's betrothed

Our Sources

Dr Rad reads Livy 3.44-48
Dr G reads Dionysius of Halicarnassus Rom. Ant. 11.28-37
Joshel, S. 2002. ‘The Body Female and the Body Politic: Livy’s Lucretia and Verginia.’ In Sexuality and gender in the classical world: readings and sources, edited by Sandra R. Joshel & Laura K. McClure, 163-190. Oxford: Blackwell.
Keegan, P. 2021. Livy’s Women. New York: Oxon.