Orator-audience dynamics in Valerius Maximus' Facta et dicta

Henriette van der Blom

Orator-audience dynamics in Valerius Maximus' Facta et dicta

Henriette van der Blom^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

52 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Orator-audience dynamics are central to the modern debate about Roman republican politics, focusing on the contio. The contional speech occasion was a two-way communication, allowing audiences (some) agency. Valerius’ Facta et dicta (27-31 AD) includes significant material to complement that of Cicero. Taking the methodological issues of Valerius’ work into account, this article discusses two descriptions of orator-audience dynamics in the Roman contio: Scipio Aemilianus in 129 BC and Aemilius Scaurus in 90 BC. Both provide valuable insights, such as the possibility of reversing the hostility of a crowd by praising its identity and highlighting its crucial role in the Roman state, and that Valerius’ stories apparently generated some interest at a time when the contio had lost most of its political influence.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	109-131
Number of pages	23
Journal	Rationes Rerum
Volume	25
Publication status	Published - 17 Sept 2025
Event	L’oratore sale in tribuna: rottura della quarta parete e dinamiche d’interazione tra oratore e pubblico - Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Duration: 13 Mar 2024 → 13 Mar 2024 http://dott.antichita.uniroma2.it/2024/03/13/convegno-loratore-sale-in-tribuna/

Bibliographical note

ISBN: 9791281673151 (print), 9791281673175 (e-book).

Access to Document

vanderBlomH2025OratorAccepted author manuscript, 301 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

https://www.edizionitored.it/prodotto/rationes-rerum-25-rivista-di-filologia-e-storia/Licence: None: All rights reserved

Cite this

@article{f1e087109c81437b96d9746a984a872a,

title = "Orator-audience dynamics in Valerius Maximus' Facta et dicta",

abstract = "Orator-audience dynamics are central to the modern debate about Roman republican politics, focusing on the contio. The contional speech occasion was a two-way communication, allowing audiences (some) agency. Valerius{\textquoteright} Facta et dicta (27-31 AD) includes significant material to complement that of Cicero. Taking the methodological issues of Valerius{\textquoteright} work into account, this article discusses two descriptions of orator-audience dynamics in the Roman contio: Scipio Aemilianus in 129 BC and Aemilius Scaurus in 90 BC. Both provide valuable insights, such as the possibility of reversing the hostility of a crowd by praising its identity and highlighting its crucial role in the Roman state, and that Valerius{\textquoteright} stories apparently generated some interest at a time when the contio had lost most of its political influence.",

author = "\{van der Blom\}, Henriette",

note = "ISBN: 9791281673151 (print), 9791281673175 (e-book). ; L{\textquoteright}oratore sale in tribuna : rottura della quarta parete e dinamiche d{\textquoteright}interazione tra oratore e pubblico ; Conference date: 13-03-2024 Through 13-03-2024",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

day = "17",

language = "English",

volume = "25",

pages = "109--131",

journal = "Rationes Rerum",

issn = "2284-2497",

url = "http://dott.antichita.uniroma2.it/2024/03/13/convegno-loratore-sale-in-tribuna/",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Orator-audience dynamics in Valerius Maximus' Facta et dicta

AU - van der Blom, Henriette

N1 - ISBN: 9791281673151 (print), 9791281673175 (e-book).

PY - 2025/9/17

Y1 - 2025/9/17

N2 - Orator-audience dynamics are central to the modern debate about Roman republican politics, focusing on the contio. The contional speech occasion was a two-way communication, allowing audiences (some) agency. Valerius’ Facta et dicta (27-31 AD) includes significant material to complement that of Cicero. Taking the methodological issues of Valerius’ work into account, this article discusses two descriptions of orator-audience dynamics in the Roman contio: Scipio Aemilianus in 129 BC and Aemilius Scaurus in 90 BC. Both provide valuable insights, such as the possibility of reversing the hostility of a crowd by praising its identity and highlighting its crucial role in the Roman state, and that Valerius’ stories apparently generated some interest at a time when the contio had lost most of its political influence.

AB - Orator-audience dynamics are central to the modern debate about Roman republican politics, focusing on the contio. The contional speech occasion was a two-way communication, allowing audiences (some) agency. Valerius’ Facta et dicta (27-31 AD) includes significant material to complement that of Cicero. Taking the methodological issues of Valerius’ work into account, this article discusses two descriptions of orator-audience dynamics in the Roman contio: Scipio Aemilianus in 129 BC and Aemilius Scaurus in 90 BC. Both provide valuable insights, such as the possibility of reversing the hostility of a crowd by praising its identity and highlighting its crucial role in the Roman state, and that Valerius’ stories apparently generated some interest at a time when the contio had lost most of its political influence.

M3 - Conference article

SN - 2284-2497

VL - 25

SP - 109

EP - 131

JO - Rationes Rerum

JF - Rationes Rerum

T2 - L’oratore sale in tribuna

Y2 - 13 March 2024 through 13 March 2024

ER -

Orator-audience dynamics in Valerius Maximus' Facta et dicta

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this