PLUTARCH 2nd CENTURY AD - Cornelia and The Vestal Virgins - Flashcards in A Level and IB Classical Civilization

CORNELIA (1): Who wrote this passage and when?

Plutarch in the 2nd Century AD Imperial Rome after Augustus and the passages are about 2nd CENTURY BC

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CORNELIA (1): What did Cornelia receive for being "CORNELIA MOTHER OF THE GRACCHI?"

A "BRONZE STATUE"

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CORNELIA (1): Where and how did she "SPEND HER DAYS" ?

In the "MISENUM" and she didn't change her "CUSTOMARY WAY OF LIFE"

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CORNELIA (1): What did she have "MANY" of? Who gave her gifts?

She had "MANY FRIENDS" which she would entertain and she was always with "GREEKS AND LEARNED MEN". It was "KINGS" who "EXCHANGED GIFTS WITH HER".

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CORNELIA (1): Who did she like to talk about?

Her Father SCIPIO AFRICANUS and her sons who she would talk about "WITHOUT WEEPING FOR THEIR SUFFERINGS"

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CORNELIA (1): What did people think of her?

Some people thought she was "INSENSIBLE" and had "LOST HER MIND" because she "SUFFERED SO GREATLY"

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CORNELIA (1): Why does PLUTARCH say that those who think shes "INSENSIBLE" are actually "INSENSIBLE" themselves? (WHAT 3 THINGS)

Because they don't understand how "NOBILITY AND GOOD BIRTH AND EDUCATION" help people in "TIMES OF SORROW"

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CORNELIA (1): What does PLUTARCH say that Cornelia cannot be "DEPRIVED OF"?

Her "RATIONAL ENDURANCE"

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CORNELIA (2): What were the names or Cornelia's Husband and two Sons?

TIBERIUS GRACCHUS was her Husband and she had 2 sons called TIBERIUS AND GAIUS GRACCHUS

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CORNELIA (2): What does PLUTARCH say about TIBERIUS (husband)?

That he "DERIVED THE GREATEST HONOUR FROM HIS VIRTUE"

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CORNELIA (2): Who was SCIPIO and who did he fight off?

SCIPIO AFRICANUS was Cornelia's Father and he "FOUGHT AGAINST HANNIBAL"

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CORNELIA (2): What was unusual about the relationship between SCIPIO and TIBERIUS?

SCIPIO offered TIBERIUS his daughter's hand in marriage even though he "HAD NOT BEEN TIBERIUS' FRIEND, BUT RATHER THE OPPOSITE"

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CORNELIA (2): What is the story about TIBERIUS?

He caught a "PAIR OF SNAKES" in his bed and "SOOTHSAYERS" told him he couldn't kill or free both, but if he killed the male he would die and if he killed the female Cornelia would die. He killed the male snake to save Cornelia.

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CORNELIA (2): What 2 reasons does PLUTARCH give for why he killed the male snake?

1) "BECAUSE HE LOVED HIS WIFE" 2) because he was "OLDER, AND SHE WAS STILL YOUNG"

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CORNELIA (2): What did TIBERIUS leave behind him after death?

"TWELVE CHILDREN WHO HAD BEEN BORN TO HIM AND CORNELIA"

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CORNELIA (2): What does PLUTARCH say about Cornelia living?

That she was so "SENSIBLE AND MOTHERLY AND GENEROUS" that it was a "GOOD DECISION" by TIBERIUS to die on behalf of "SUCH A WOMAN"

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CORNELIA (2): What was offered to Cornelia because she was fulfilling her PIETAS so much?

PTOLEMY (king of Egypt)- "PROPOSED MARRIAGE" and offered to "SHARE HIS KINGDOM" with her, but she refused and decided to remain "A WIDOW" - chaste even after TIBERIUS' death

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CORNELIA (2): How many of the "TWELVE" survived?

Only 3: her two sons GAIUS and TIBERIUS as well as a daughter who married SCIPIO THE YOUNGER

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CORNELIA (2): Where did her sons celebrated virtue come from?

Although they were considered to be the "MOST NATURALLY GIFTED" of all Romans, PLUTARCH says their virtue came from their "EDUCATION RATHER THAN THEIR BIRTH"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: When is this story about?

Rome in the 7th Century BC

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VESTAL VIRGINS: What were the VESTAL VIRGINS?

They were "SIX VIRGINS" whose "DUTY" it was to "KEEP THE SACRED FIRE" burning for "THE GODDESS OF THE HEARTH, VESTA". It was a "ROUND BUILDING IN THE ROMAN FORUM"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: Whats the set up of the atrium of Vesta?

In the first decade they "LEARN THEIR DUTIES", in the second and "MIDDLE" decade they "DO WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED" and in the third they "TEACH OTHERS". Once she has serves her 3 decades, she is "FREE TO MARRY" if she "WISHES" or adopt "ANOTHER STYLE"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: What did many Vestal Virgins do after their 3 decades?

Many stayed "CONSTANT IN THEIR VIRGINITY UNTIL OLD AGE AND DEATH" because those who got married were generally "AFFLICTED BY REGRET" for the rest of their lives so "FEW" "WELCOMED THIS OPPORTUNITY"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: Who created the institution?

NUMA POMPILIUS the second King of Rome

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VESTAL VIRGINS: What Roman law is mentioned in this passage?

That mothers who have "THREE CHILDREN" can "CONDUCT" their "BUSINESS AFFAIRS WITHOUT A GUARDIAN"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: What 2 "SIGNIFICANT HONOURS" did NUMA give the virgins?

1) The right to "make a will during their Father's lifetime" 2) The right to conduct "their other public affairs without a guardian"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: Where they allowed to leave the atrium?

Yes and when they go out they're "PRECEDED BY LICTORS WITH THE FASCES" (bundle of sticks symbolising power) and if they happened across a criminal to be executed then their "LIFE IS SPARED" but she would have to "SWEAR" the meeting was "INVOLUNTARY"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: Who is put to death?

"ANYONE WHO GOES UNDERNEATH A VESTAL'S LITTER WHEN SHE IS BEING CARRIED"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: How is a minor offence taken?

"PUNISHED BY BEATING" "ADMINISTERED BY THE PONTIFEX" (chief high priest) with "THE OFFENDER NAKED" and "IN A DARK PLACE WITH A CURTAIN SET UP BETWEEN THEM"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: Whats a more serious offence and what is its punishment?

If a virgin is "SEDUCED" then she is "BURIED ALIVE" near the "COLLINE GATE"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: What is the process?

A "SMALL ROOM" in the ground is prepared with "AN ENTRANCE FROM ABOVE" and in it is the "BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE" because they considered it "IMPIOUS" to let a body that is "CONSECRATED TO THE MOST HOLY RITES" to "DIE OF STARVATION"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: What 6 things are mentioned in the passage to be in the "SMALL ROOM"?

1) "bed with a cover" 2)"a lighted lamp" 3) "bread" 4) "water in a bucket" 5) "milk" 6) "oil"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: How does she get there?

She is put "ON A LITTER" which they cover from "THE OUTSIDE AND BIND DOWN WITH STRAPS" so that her voice "CANNOT BE HEARD" and take her through the FORUM. Everyone follows "WITHOUT A WORD" and PLUTARCH says there "IS NO OTHER SIGHT SO TERRIFYING"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: What does PLUTARCH say that highlights the way they see seduction of a Vestal Virgin?

"THE CITY FINDS NO DAY MORE DISTASTEFUL THAN THAT DAY"

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VESTAL VIRGINS: What religious ceremony happens at the burial?

The "CHIEF PRIEST" says "CERTAIN SECRET PRAYERS" and "LIFTS HIS HANDS TO THE GODS IN PRAYER" because he is considered to be the one to "CARRY OUT THE EXECUTION". She is led down a ladder "VEILED" and all the priests "TURN AWAY" as ladder goes + mud

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VESTAL VIRGINS: What does PLUTARCH say that appears as a threat to all women?

"THAT IS HOW THOSE WHO ABANDON THEIR SACRED VIRGINITY ARE PUNISHED"

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PLUTARCH 2nd CENTURY AD - Cornelia and The Vestal Virgins

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