Libertatis simulacrum (Dom. 110), simulacrum non libertatis (Dom 131): Reflections on the Nature of the Images of the Gods in Cicero

MARÍA EMILIA CAIRO

Statues in Roman Religion / Estátuas na religião romana

Coimbra University Press

Lugar: Coimbra (Portugal); Año: 2020; p. 65 - 80

Abstract:The purpose of this contribution is to re-examine Cicero´s speech De Domo Sua, with a special focus on the statue of the goddess Libertas placed by Clodius on Cicero´s land. In general, the different analyses of this text have accepted the nature of this statue as a cult image. From my viewpoint, however, just as he objects to his land being a consecrated space --- due to the vices in the ritual of consecration - Cicero expresses doubt that the simulacrum is truly a representation of the Roman goddess Libertas, by referring to the features of the image, its origin and its use by Clodius. The examination of Cicero´s remarks contributes to a wider study of the simulacra deorum in his texts since he outlines a series of requirements that a statue must fulfil to effectively become the image of a god.