Arvay podcast listeners, be warned beforehand.

This episode of Emperors of Rome describes self-harm and suicide, and in this instance,

explores sources that glorify it.

In context, it's an interesting episode.

But if this impacts your mental health, please be aware and take care of yourself.

Arve and welcome to Emperors of Rome, a Roman history podcast from La Trobe University.

I'm your host Matt Smith and with me today is Riannon Evans, Associate Professor in Classics

and Ancient History at La Trobe University.

This is episode CCX-L-V-I-I, Portia.

Being the daughter of Cato and the wife of Brutus came with certain expectations from the ancient world.

Embody her father's principles, be a fine, upstanding Roman woman, and put Rome first above all other things.

Portia did this and was admired for her disposition.

Here's Riannon Evans.

Porchia Cotonis, Portia, Cato.

So if people have heard of Cato the younger, they'll know that he's involved

in the last Civil War of the Republic against Julius Caesar. He dies in the 40s BC. His daughter,

Portia, was born around 73 BC. So we're in the last century of the Republic and we're winding

it down. And her story is an important part of that, both whose daughter she is and who she'll

be married to and her kind of part in mythologizing of the Republican side, I think.

And just, you know, for a woman in that era, we know quite a lot about her because of who she is, not just

an extension of who she's married to, who she's related to, but the sort of woman that

she is.

...