Marcus Tullius Cicero, Pro Roscio Amerino [On Behalf of Roscius of Ameria]

Kathryn Tempest (University of Roehampton)
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The

Pro Roscio Amerino

is the published version of a speech Cicero delivered in 80 BC, when he successfully defended Sextus Roscius of Ameria on the charge of parricide. Cicero was only 26 years of age at the time and it was his first appearance in a criminal suit. Moreover, it was a high-profile case: it was the first trial to be conducted in the newly-established court appointed for trials under the Cornelian law on poisoning and murder. Cicero refers to the excitement generated by the crowds that had assembled to watch (Cicero

Pro Roscio Amerino

11)

.

Indeed, looking back on this speech later in life, Cicero believed that it was the first to launch his oratorical career, for many other cases followed in quick succession (Cicero,

Brutus

312).

While we only have Cicero’s version of

1246 words

Citation: Tempest, Kathryn. "Pro Roscio Amerino". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 14 June 2010 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=20484, accessed 19 March 2024.]

20484 Pro Roscio Amerino 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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