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Drama Ancient, Classical & Medieval

The Orators in Cicero's Brutus

Prosopography and Chronology

by (author) G.V. Sumner

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Dec 1973
Category
Ancient, Classical & Medieval, Rome, General
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781487574024
    Publish Date
    Dec 1973
    List Price
    $35.95

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Description

Special problems are presented to prospographers and historians of the Roman Republic who attempt to determine the chronological structure of Cicero’s Brutus.

 

Over two hundred orators who figured actively in Roman politics from the time of the Punic Wars to that of Civil War are cited in the dialogue. Professor Sumner presents their probable birth-dates and careers in the form of a register, followed by a commentary concentrating on the controversial points in the Brutus, to give a systematic basis to our understanding of the problems of the historical aspects of the dialogue and Cicero’s organization of it.

 

Professor Sumner has worked primarily from the historian’s viewpoint. In his words: ‘the study of the chronological structure of the Brutus should be considered the vertebra of the monograph, but the body of the work is the prosopographical commentary, while the examination of Cicero’s prosoporgraphical and chronographic resources and methods is an essential adjunct.’

 

For scholars and students of early Rome this analysis is a valuable addition to current knowledge.

About the author

G.V. SUMNER is with the Department of Classics, University College, University of Toronto.

G.V. Sumner's profile page