“URBEM, URBEM COLE!” TAKING A WALK IN CICERO’S VESTIGIA

Abstract

In this article, I have followed Cicero expressing himself in different works belonging to different genres, with regard to feelings of patriotism and homesickness. His love for his place of birth, Arpinum, was strong, but the love for Rome was even stronger. Still, for Cicero Arpinum also qualifies as patria. On the whole, Cicero tends to prefer city life above the countryside, but depending on circumstances he can be positive about the rural life as well. However, for Cicero Rome is definitely the centre of his world. When away from Rome, he misses the city dearly and does everything to return as soon as possible. Cicero experienced both his ‘exile’ from Rome and his governorship of Cilicia as particularly strenuous and difficult phases. With regard to Greece and the Greeks, Cicero displays the very ambiguity that is characteristic of Roman nobility as a whole.