Milo Versus Clodius

Troy Rood Honors Latin 4 The Murder of Codius Due: Monday March 4, 2013 Milo and Clodius were political opponents in Ancient Roman times. They could be considered the Sharks and Jets of Ancient Rome feuding against each other like gangs, except they were opposites politically. Milo was a man of the Senate and Clodius was a man of Caesar, so they opposed each other before the brutal attack and murder of Clodius. These men were political opponents in the 53 BCE elections that were postponed a number of times before due to the violence of the politicians. The tensions were mounting in this case before the murder even happened. Milo was a very angry man who incited many of these fights. During these battles Milo’s men killed Clodius. Milo, even though he didn’t actually murder Clodius is equally as guilty because of his men’s actions. Birria was one of the gladiators who were following Milo. He was one of the two gladiators who were known in the crowd of Milo’s men. Sequebatur eos magnum servorum agmen, inter quos gladiators quoque errant, ex quibus duo noti, Eudamus et Birria. (58 A, 7-9)

A large line of slaves followed them between which gladiators also were from which two known, Eudamus and Birria.

Birria was the man in Milo’s group who stabbed Clodius according to Asconius. Even though it wasn’t Milo who was directly stabbing Clodius, it was still one of his men who stabbed Clodius in the shoulder. Ad quem tumultum cum respexisset Clodius minitabundus, umerum eius Birria rumpia traiecit. (58 B, 11-12)

When menacing Clodius had looked back at the commotion,
Birria pierced his shoulder with a spear.

Milo had obviously planned this murder attempt out because he wouldn’t just always carry his gladiators with him, normal people only travelled with their slaves. The murder was a planned attempt on Clodius’ life, which is why Milo should’ve been punished. Milo started