Du désordre de la vie de tous les jours à l’immortalité de l’âme, par la voie des vertus

Havas, László (2014) Du désordre de la vie de tous les jours à l’immortalité de l’âme, par la voie des vertus. Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 54 (1). pp. 1-12. ISSN 0044-5975

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Abstract

Following the loss of his political position in the 50s BC and the tragedy in his private life, the death of his daughter, Cicero turns to the genre of the consolatio, connecting the personal hardships with experiencing the final days of the republic, the loss of libertas and dignitas. The analysis focuses on the plan of the fanum to commemorate Tullia, which is mostly regarded by researchers as displeasing and exhibitionist even in the eyes of contemporaneous orators. However, the letters suggest otherwise. Extending the virtus shown in the interest of the community and the concept of post-mortem honour acknowledging it also to women, and connecting it to the notions of humanitas and oikeiósis, Cicero argues for the apotheosis of Tullia on the basis of moral philosophical considerations. When it becomes evident that the realisation of the plan would harm Caesar’s financial and political interests, the letters designate the killing of the dictator obstructing the ideal functioning of the civitas as a communal task for the sake of preserving the sancta societas.

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