Cic. ad Brut. 1, 9 and the Death of Porcia

Abstract

The death of Porcia, the eldest daughter of Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis and the second wife of Marcus Junius Brutus, has been remembered by many authors from antiquity to the modern period. However, the wide divergence of the accounts has given rise to considerable scholarly debate about the circumstances of her death. This article does not aim to propose a definitive solution to the case, as this is probably not possible based on the extant evidence, but rather to demonstrate that – contrary to recent trends in scholarship – a cautious approach in discussing Porcia’s death remains essential. After a reassessment of the available historical sources, the article attempts to provide additional insights into the case by considering literary, rhetorical, and ideological arguments that can shed more light on Porcia’s death.