BROADCASTS.com

b'
\\nCW: The accounts of Virginia include paedophilic desire and violence against women.
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nVirginia has been murdered by her own father in the Forum in an attempt to protect her from the decemvir Appius Claudius. As far as Virginius and most other Roman dads are concerned, death is better than dishonour. What will this act mean for Virginius and his family? How will it impact Appius Claudius? Tune in to find out as we venture once more into the rule of the Second Decemvirate and deal with the aftermath of one of the crises of the Conflict of the Orders.
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nLooking to get up to sped on Verginia\'s story so far - it begins here. Yes, you\'re right, there\'s a variety of ways to spell her name!
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nEpisode 115 - The Anatomy of a Murder
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nCharlotte Mary Yong 1880. The Death of Verginia. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nChaos in the City
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nEven though this is a key moment in the conflict between patricians and plebeians, there are still some intriguing differences in the accounts provided by Livy and Dionysius. In Dr Rad\\u2019s account, Verginius is quick to fight his way out of Rome in the midst of the chaos with a band of supporters, leaving Verginia\\u2019s fianc\\xe9e Icilius and her uncle Numitorius to display the body of the murdered girl to the crowd.
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nIn a scene very reminiscent of Lucretia\\u2019s body being used to incite the overthrow of the monarchy, Verginia\\u2019s corpse is used as a symbol of the corruption of the Second Decemvirate and the crowd starts to get dangerous. It seems that they may also have some allies \\u2013 the disgruntled patricians who also despise the decemvirs. The leaders of this faction include Valerius and Horatius, and they are getting a lot of love from the citizens for standing up to Appius Claudius and his cronies.
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nMeanwhile, in Dionysius\\u2019 account, there is a lot more focus on the fate of Verginia\\u2019s body. When Appius tries to have her removed from the Forum, the people claim her body for their own and stage a funeral procession for the murdered girl. Livy and Dionysius clearly have included different details regarding the aftermath of her death, but in both accounts, she is clearly a symbol in life and death.
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nThese stories highlight how women are used by male writers to draw attention to the virtues and vices of the men around them. In this sense, these histories were not striving for an analytical and objective account, but one that promoted a desirable ideology for their own time. It is very clear that these were histories designed to inspire those who read them to act in ways that would benefit the state and keep order. \\xa0
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nA Real Cliffhanger
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nIn spite of their differences, both Livy and Dionysius end up leading us to the same point. We switch from events in Rome to Verginius\\u2019 return to his army encampment. Covered in the blood of his daughter and still clutching the murder weapon, he makes a rousing speech in both accounts, trying to persuade his fellow-soldiers that the real criminal in this sordid affair is Appius Claudius. Will the soldiers support him in seeking vengeance against the decemvir? Or will the tyrannous rule of the ten continue?
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nGabriel Fran\\xe7ois Doyen c. 1757. La Mort de Virginie (The Death of Virginia)
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nOur Players
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nThe Decemvirs
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n* Appius Claudius. Ap. f. M. n. Crassus Inregillensis Sabinus Pat \\u2013 Cos. 471, 451* Spurius Oppius Cornicen* Quintus Fabius M. f. M. n. Vibulanus Pat \\u2013 Cos. 467, 465, 459* Quintus Poetelius Libo Visolus* Manius Rabuleius* Mar...'