Clodia

Roman courtesan

Also known as: Lesbia

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Flourished:: 1st century bc

Flourished:: c.100 BCE - c.1 BCE

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Clodia (flourished 1st century bc) was a profligate Roman beauty and sister of the demagogue Publius Clodius. She was married in 63 bc to Quintus Metellus Celer and was suspected of responsibility for his death in 59 bc. She was mistress to the poet Catullus, who wrote of her as Lesbia, and was the most important influence in his life. Another of her lovers was Marcus Caelius Rufus, whom Cicero defended against a charge of attempting to poison her, painting a graphic picture of Clodia as a dangerous beauty.

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