Il corpo della parola. Intorno a Cicerone, Brutus 330

How can we interpret the personification of eloquence as adulta virgo that Cicero inserts in Brutus 330? In this paper, we aim to trace and document the origins and recurrences of this figure, both as a useful contribution to show that Cicero’s intention, in this work, was not to celebrate the end of public speaking, and also as a historically careful recovery of the series of values that Roman culture associated with certain biological and age characteristics of the female figure. In conclusion, we propose some reflections on the opportunities that the interpretation of important, but sometimes cumbersome texts, due the (disturbing) cultural patterns they are bearers of, offer for the critical renewal of the study and teaching of Latin literature.