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| Women celebrating the Bona Dea Rituals |
The Roman World is full of religious rites
and rituals. As an undying remnant from long ages past since the time of
Romulus, the fear and respect for the Divine permeated through the society, and
through all layers of public life, from a single observation of the natural
world (such as lightning and eagles flying overhead), to the inspection of
animal entrails by augurs deciphering the fate of the Republic. In this, Rome
is pretty much like a venerable and august ‘junk yard’ who tirelessly recycled
her ancient customs since time immemorial.
The rituals of the Bona Dea are no exception,
with its root deep within antiquity. Literally meaning ‘the Good Goddess’, Bona
Dea is a divinity in ancient Roman religion associated with chastity and fertility
in women. According to some sources, the Goddess’ origin is Magna Graecia (the
coastal areas of Southern Italy on the Tarentine Gulf). The Goddess had two annual
festivals, one held at her Aventine temple; the other hosted in December by the
wife of Rome's senior annual magistrate, for a group of elite matrons and
female attendants including the Vestal Virgins. The sacred rituals were strictly
confined to women. Men were barred from her mysteries and the possession of her
true name. There were numerous ancient speculations about identity of the Bona
Dea since male authors undoubtedly would have limited knowledge on the subject.
Before the rituals, the house was to be ritually cleansed of all male persons
and presences, even male animals and male portraiture. Males who were caught attending
or sneaking a peek at the rituals would be severely punished, including being
brutally wounded.
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| Bona Dea enthroned with Cornucopia |
In 62 BC, it happened that the services of
the Bona Dea rituals would be performed at the home of the then Pontifex Maximus
(Chief Priest), Gaius Julius Caesar (our famous Dictator). However, the
ceremony was unceremoniously ‘tainted’ when Publius Claudius Pulcher (Cicero’s
bitter enemy, as mentioned in our last blog), a young patrician of the Clodii
family, was found trying to enter Caesar’s home on the night of the services
dressed up as a musician girl. He was discovered by a slave. Cicero, as always,
related such tale to his friend Atticus. In a way, Clodius was lucky to have
escaped with his life since such sacrilege would have warranted his killing at
the hands of the ritual participants. Nonetheless, the ceremony was desecrated,
and its repercussion far-reaching more than anyone could have imagined. Those
curious at this fact must be reminded that religion in ancient Rome served an
essential purpose to all aspects of society – military, government, private
life. Clodius’ action would have entirely undermined the purpose the Bona Dea
rituals were trying to serve.
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| Publius Clodius Pulcher |
There were speculations as to the reasons of
Clodius’ attempt to enter the ceremony. The most famous speculation is that he
was engaged in an affair with Caesar’s second wife, Pompeia. Others commented
that the rashness of his youth might have spurred him on to act recklessly on
his own accord. Nonetheless, Caesar left no room to chance or speculations. He
divorced Pompeia famously saying “Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion”. Yet, despite his humiliation (remember the
offence was committed in his very home possibly with his very wife!), Caesar’s
reaction was apparently mild. His relaxed attitude was out of the ordinary, and
continued to interest and vex historians. Indeed, he went on to declare himself
ignorant of the whole affair. How could a Pontifex Maximus allow his home to be
tainted and a young reckless delinquent to have an affair with his wife with
impunity? Caesar could have easily brought charges against Clodius for adultery
and dealt him harsh punishment given his own high standing.
Despite Caesar’s feigned ignorance, Clodius
still found himself charged with sacrilege and brought to trial. The
prosecution was headed by Cicero, who wished to increase his personal fame and influence
through his rhetoric. He delivered a scathing and savage speech against Clodius
in the Senate, and completely obliterated Clodius’ alibi:
“O extraordinary prodigy! O you monster! Are
you not ashamed at the sight of this temple, and of this city, nor your life,
nor the light of day? Do you, who were clad in woman’s attire, dare to assume a
manly voice-you, whose infamous lust and adultery, united with impiety, was not
delayed even by the time to stubborn witnesses to procure your acquittal?”
However, then came a twist of fate, one which
completely took Cicero by surprise. The Senate cleared Clodius of all charges.
The main reason for this surprised acquittal was that Clodius used monetary
means to obtain his freedom funded by the one and only Marcus Licinius Crassus.
In the end, his rhetoric was unable to withstand the people’s love for money.
Nevertheless, his spiteful testimony was sufficient to create an irreparable
rift between Clodius and himself, and to displace the former from government.
Because of this, Clodius’ sense of pride was mortally wounded and he nursed an
undying grievance against Cicero from that time since. Caesar, by feigning
ignorance, has effectively offered Clodius mercy and a chance at redemption. In return, Caesar secured Clodius’ loyalty,
and a powerful ally against Cicero. In effect, he was in a position of
leverage, a position which he has craftily played into his interests. Cicero was
about to find himself in a real mess!
Come back to read more as navigate our way
through the labyrinth of Roman politics, betrayal, faction-shifting, and gang
wars that would see blood spilled on the streets of Rome.
To
be continued in the next blog
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