Klodia Metelli w krzywym zwierciadle Cycerońskiej retoryki
Clodia Metelli in ‘the di storting mirror’ of Cicero’s rhetoric

Summary/Abstract: The article is an analysis of extensive parts of ‘Pro Caelio oratio’. This speech was delievered by Marcus Tulius Cicero Turing the famous trial, held in April 56 B.C. Cicero was a defender ( he was the closing speaker because there were three prosecutors and two defenders, also Caelius spoke twice) of a young nobleman - Marcus Cealius Rufus whose accusaton was framed under a lex de vi. This law was directed partcicularly against those who disturbed the public peace by armed bands. There were five formal charges against Caelius, but only two last of them (De Dioneand de vaneno in Clodiam parato) were dealt with by Cicero. The last charge was strictly connected with Clodia, a very importnat witness of the prosecution. Because this woman played a significant role Caelius trial Cicero decided to discredit this beautiful sister of Publius Clodius, the greatest enemy of the orator, plebeian tribune of 58 B.C. Clodia Metelli, who was also depicted in marvelous pigrams by one of the most outstanding Roman poet – Catullus, was influential and educated but very independent woman. And such a situation was unusual in the I century B.C. Having discredited Clodia was a very easy task for Cicero because Roman pe ople were inclined to condemn any sort of excensive behaviour. ‘Pro Caelio’ is a brillant invective against Clodia. She was portrayed in this speech as a brazen, wealthy woman, even prostitute , who spent evenings and nights with her lovers and in this way, corrupting these Young men of Rome. Cicero insinuated that she even had poisoned Her husband and was in incestous realtionship with her brother. The speech in Caelius’s behalf Romains a spledndid ilustration of the orator’s wit but it is also a cruel attacack of influential orator on the help less woman. Interrogations irny, apostrophes, exclamations, antithesis, hiperbole and other adornments of style were used to depict Clodia as ‘Palatine Medea’ and to dis credit this fitness. Cicero Rusing this method achieved a success. His rhetorical arguments were so convining that Clodia is still porrayed by different authors (schloarships and writers) in the Cicero’s way. This article is an announcement of monography dedicated to Clodia Metelli as a phenomenonof a great persuasive Power of Roman writers, especially Cicero and Catullus.

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