Marcus Tullius Cicero 102-43 BCE

Marcus Tullius Cicero was born on January 3, 106 B.C.E. , at Arpinum near Rome, the oldest son of a

wealthy landowner, also named Marcus Tullius Cicero. At a young age Cicero began studying the writings in his father's library. Both Cicero and his

brother Quintus became greatly interested in philosophy and public speaking.

Admirably educated in Rome and in Greece, he did military service in 89 under Pompeius Strabo (the father of the

statesman and general Pompey) and made his first appearance in the courts defending Publius Quinctius in 81.

His brilliant defense, in 80 or early 79, of Sextus Roscius against a fabricated charge of parricide established his

reputation at the bar, and he started his public career as quaestor (an office of financial administration) in western

Sicily in 75.

106 BC Marcus Tullius Cicero born at Arpinum 3 January c.104 His brother Quintus born.

c.94-90 Education in philosophy and rhetoric.

c.90Serves in the army in the Social War under Gnaeus

Pompeius Strabo, father of Pompey the Great.

c.89Studies law under Quintus Mucius Scaevola and

Scaevola’s cousin of the same name.88-82 Civil unrest.82-79 Dictatorship of Sulla.

81 Cicero’s first case, Pro Quinctio.

80/79Marries Terentia. They have two children, Tullia (b. c.78)

and Marcus Tullius Cicero (b. 65).

79Successfully defends Sextus Roscius Amerinus against a

charge of parricide (Pro Roscio Amerino). 79-77 Travels in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean.

75 Quaestor in Sicily. Now qualifies to sit in the senate.

70 First consulship of Crassus and Pompey. Cicero successfully prosecutes Verres for extortion.

Quotes

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”

“Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century:

Believing that personal gain is made by crushing others;

Worrying about things that cannot be changed or corrected;

Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it;

Refusing to set aside trivial preferences;Neglecting development and refinement of the

mind;Attempting to compel others to believe and live

as we do.”

“To add a library to a house is to give that house a soul.”

Mark Antony and Octavian partnered together in taking over Roman power and Marcus Tullius

Cicero was to become an enemy of the state since Octavian chose not to protect him. On the orders of Mark Antony, the man of justice was murdered

—slit in the throat with his head and hands decapitated, which were then hung on the podium

in the Senate as a warning.

The poet Catullus describes Saturnalia as the best of days. It was a time of celebration, visits to friends, and gift-

giving, particularly of wax candles (cerei), and earthenware figurines (sigillaria). The best part of the Saturnalia (for

slaves) was the temporary reversal of roles. Masters served meals to their slaves who were permitted the

unaccustomed luxuries of leisure and gambling. Clothing was relaxed and included the peaked woollen cap that

symbolized the freed slave, which looks an awful lot like Santa Claus's peaked red hat . A member of the familia

(family plus slaves) was appointed Saturnalicius princeps, roughly, Lord of Misrule.

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ch-Co/Cicero-Marcus-Tullius.html#ixzz2ENcC8Lq7 http://www.egs.edu/library/marcus-tullius-cicero/biography/

http://www.decodingtheheavens.com/blog/2008/12/default.aspx http://wikis.milkenschool.org/Z_-_Archives/Verba_Diei_Wiki/Marcus_Tullius_Cicero

http://www.the-romans.co.uk/timelines/cicero.htmhttp://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/13755.Marcus_Tullius_Cicero