More About Cicero and Rhodes

Marcus Tullius Cicero is credited with being the greatest of Roman orators. He was born in Rome in 106 BCE and was murdered in 43 BCE. Born to a wealthy equestrian family, Cicero received the best education possible in Rome, Athens, and Rhodes and developed the necessary oratory skills for public life. He also studied with the principal philosophers and rhetoricians of Asia. In 63 BCE, he was elected consul or one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic. Unfortunately, Cicero's life coincided with the end of the Roman Republic. His success in politics was cut short by civil war and he returned to writing. He hoped to return to politics when the Julius Caesar was assassinated. Two prominent men in Roman politics emerged to replace Caesar: Octavian and Mark Antony. Cicero sided with Octavian, but Antony succeeded in replacing Caesar. Failing to escape from Rome, Cicero was captured and assassinated for association. Of course, there's more to the story of Cicero's life than this. Use the links below to find out more about Cicero:

• The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy has an overview of Cicero's life and thoughts.
• If you're interested in reading some of his works, many of them are online.
• Some people even think that Cicero rocks.

So now you know a little about Cicero, but what about Rhodes? You've probably heard of the Colossus of Rhodes, but there's more to it than that. Rhodes is both a small island in the Aegean Sea about twelve miles from the coast of Asia Minor and a capital city of that same island. In it's heyday, the city of Rhodes was a wealthy and independent Greek state with many poets, artists, and philosophers calling it home. It served as an economic center to the ancient world. It began to decline when it aligned with the Romans in the second century BCE, the time that our scenario takes place. Use the links below to find out more about Rhodes:

• The unique history of Rhodes is summed up well in this short article.
• The Colossus of Rhodes is an interesting part of the island's history.
• Today Rhodes is a popular vacation spot, but it's history is still visible.