Unit 07: Two Great Romans: Cato the Elder and Antony
Contents and layout ©1999 Joseph J. Hughes, Ph.D.
Revised 09 November 2000
I. Comparison #1
A. M. Porcius Cato
1. upholder of mos maiorum
a. born of Tusculan stock
b. valiant military hero
c. sponsored by patrician L. Valerius Flaccvs
d. became more Roman than the Romans themselves
e. some cracks in the facade
2. personal ambitions
a. burned to win glory for Rome
b. burned to win glory for Cato
3. personal characteristics
a. as censor, defender of the mos maiorum
b. enemy of just about everything Greek
c. lifestyle of great personal severity
d. wealthy as all hell
B. M. Antonius
1. larger-than-life figure
a. brave lieutenant of Caesar
b. carouser and ladies' man
1). henpecked husband of Fulvia
2). rollicking lover of Cleopatra
c. master of half of the Roman Empire
2. personal ambitions
a. ascend the cursus honorum
b. become king of the Roman Empire
3. tragic figure
a. outmaneuvered by Octavius
b. makes heroic last stand
c. commits suicide
II. Cato
A. humble origins
1. Roman plebeian from Tusculum
2. served as private in Roman army
3. rich, but very sparing in personal life
B. under patronage of Valerius Flaccus
1. Valerius Flaccus on the look for plebeian talent
a. mos maiorum vs. positive change
b. positive change wins
2. VF and Cato serve as consuls together
a. VF: patron, Cato: client
b. pendulum starts to swing in other direction
C. on his own hook
1. Serves as military assistant to other consuls
a. T. Sempronius
b. M. Acilius
2. personal rivalry with Scipio Africanus
a. mos maiorum vs. philhellenism
b. plebeian vs. patrician
c. two titanic egos
3. elected censor 184 BC
a. appoints VF leader of the Senate
b. boots out unsuitable senators
c. raises taxes on luxuries
d. became very unpopular with the wealthy
1). scads of lawsuits
2). Cato fought back
e. supposedly the vulgus loved him
4. loved to heap praise on himself
C. Roman gravity
1. good family man
a. respectful of his wife
b. meticulous about raising his son
1). home schoolin'
2). kid grew up to be a credit
2. fanatic about making money
a. moneylending is murder
b. still: gouge away
3. attitude toward Greek learining
a. "We don't need no stinkin' Greek"
1). orated to Athenians in Latin
2). voted to kick out Greek philosophers ASAP
b. knew his Greek rhetoric and philosophy
1). skilled orator
2). also a historian: Gk. genre
D. other stuff
1. married the daughter of low-born Salonius
2. Karthago delenda est
3. personification of the mos maiorvm
III. Marcvs Antonivs
A. youth
1. noble family
2. "corrupted" by Curio (272)
a. probably exaggerated (thanx to Cicero)
b. still no shrinking violet
c. cf. John F. Kennedy?
B. early military exploits
1. adventures in Ancient Egypt (273)
2. heroism and leadership in Civil War (276-278)
C. personality
1. drinker and carouser (274)
a. appealed to his soldiers
b. scandalized others
2. lavish in giving gifts (275)
3. embarrassing scenes in public (279)
a. vomiting on the tribunal
b. luxurious lifestyle
4. dominated by his wife Fulvia (280-281)
D. aftermath of Caesar's death
1. displayed courage when chips were down (285)
2. settlement with C. Octavius "Caesar" (287)
3. primary instigator of bloody proscriptions
E. Antony and Cleopatra
1. swept off his feet by Egyptian queen (292-297)
a. beauty
b. ability to act like one of the guys
c. talent for partying
2. Antony legally married at the time
a. Fulvia died 40 BC
b. political marriage to Octavia
1). picture of Roman matronhood
2). bore sons like a good wife
3). took husband's part over brother's
4). follows husband to Greece
3. tensions between Octavian and Antony simmer
a. Octavia back at Rome
b. Antony campaigns against Parthia
4. Octavia vs. Cleopatra
a. Octavia stood up after trip to Athens (319-320)
1). had brought provisions
2). set-up job by Octavian
b. Antony joins Cleo in Alexandria (320)
1). effectively makes his choice
2). Octavia clearly out
c. Octavia continues to take Antony's side (321)
1). begs brother to forgive Antony; helps Tony's friends
2). takes care of all his children
3). wins glory for herself as ideal wife
F. Antony the King
1. begins to consider himself royal
a. makes Cleo the "Queen of Egypt, etc" (321)
b. divides empire between his and Cleo's kids
1). ignores Republican traditions
2). seized on by Octavius' propaganda (322)
c. starts dressing as an Eastern potentate
2. cavorts all over the place with Cleo
3. Octavius blows his top (324)
a. Octavia divorced and Antony's will becomes public
b. rumors abound
1). probably propaganda
2). more debauchery
c. mos maiorum being violated here
4. Octavius declares war on Cleo (326)
Return to Table of Contents
Return to LLT 326 Home Page