The Untold Story of Messalina: The most Notorious Woman of the Roman Empire
History & Social Policy
•
1h 1m
Messalina was the third wife of the Emperor Claudius and one of the most notorious women of the Roman world. Historians Tacitus and Suetonius wrote that the Empress Messalina was 'a ruthless and sexually insatiable schemer.' The stories they told about her included nightly visits to a brothel and a twenty-four-hour sex competition with a prostitute. Tales like these have defined the empress's legacy but is her story more complex?
In June 2023 classicist Honor Cargill-Martin came to Intelligence Squared to reveal the truth about arguably one of the most slandered and underestimated female figures of ancient history. She described a woman battling to assert her position in the overwhelmingly male world of imperial Roman politics – and succeeding. Intelligent, passionate and ruthless when she needed to be, Cargill-Martin argued that Messalina's story encapsulates the cut-throat political maneuvering and excessive lifestyle of the Roman elite in their heyday.
Up Next in History & Social Policy
-
Nudge Revisited with Richard Thaler
Since the original publication of Nudge more than a decade ago, the word that served as the title of the ground-breaking book has entered the vocabulary of businesspeople, policy makers, engaged citizens and consumers everywhere. Nudge has sold more than two million copies worldwide and has been ...
-
Substance Use: The Miraculous Story o...
There are six crucial substances in human history: sand, iron, salt, oil, copper and lithium. They took us from the Dark Ages to the present day. They build our homes and offices, power our computers and phones, and create life-saving medicines. But most of us take them completely for granted.
I...
-
The Patriarchs: Unravelling the Roots...
What are the true origins of gendered oppression? Why does gender inequality persist despite efforts for change? What part do we all play in keeping patriarchal structures alive?
On June 20 award-winning science journalist Angela Saini comes to Intelligence Squared to address these questions ...
