4. The Speech

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we explore the structure of the speech and the argumentation that Cicero uses to convince the people that giving the command to Pompey is the best and most honourable thing to do. In particular, we introduce the standard structure for a deliberative speech, and showing to extent to which Cicero conforms with this structure, before looking at the specific arguments that Cicero uses to show that Pompey is the best possible choice for the generalship in the war against Mithridates.

Course

In this course, Henriette van der Blom (University of Glasgow) explores Cicero's speech 'De Imperio Cn Pompeii', delivered in 66 BC. The course begins with an introduction to oratory in Rome, including the different kinds of speeches that an orator might deliver, before moving on to consider the historical and political context of the speech. In the third module, we look at the two main protagonists in this speech, Pompey and Cicero, before looking in the fourth module at the structure of the speech and the arguments that Cicero makes to prove that Pompey should be given what he wants. In the final speech, we look at the impact of the speech; firstly the impact of Pompey's command on Roman foreign and domestic policy, and secondly the impact on Cicero's political career.

Lecturer

Dr Henriette van der Blom is a Lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Birmingham. She specialises in the political life and oratorical culture of the Roman republic and early Empire, especially the history of the late Roman republic, patterns of political careers, all aspects of Cicero, oratory and rhetoric, fragmentary evidence, exempla and memorialisation. Her recent publications include Cicero’s Role Models (OUP, 2010) and Oratory and Political Career in the Late Roman Republic (CUP, 2016)