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Incident on the Appian Way Trivia Quiz

In the first century BCE (the last years of the Roman Republic), Publius Clodius Pulcher and Titus Annius Milo met on the Appian Way. One of them died there. How much do you know about this important step towards the end of the republic?

A multiple-choice quiz by tamrof. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
tamrof

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
339,789

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
247

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When Publius Clodius Pulcher and Titus Annius Milo met on the Appian Way, one of them died. When did this incident take place? Hint

In the winter of 53-52 BCE.

In the summer of 57 BCE.

In the spring of 52 BCE.

In the winter of 55-54 BCE.

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Question 2 of 10

2. At the time that one of them died, Milo and Clodius were both running for public office. Which one was standing for the office of praetor? Hint

Clodius.

Both of these.

Milo.

Neither of these.

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Question 3 of 10

3. When Clodius and Milo met on the Appian Way, one was going north, and one was going south. They each were accompanied by a large train. Who was leaving Rome? Hint

Clodius.

Milo.

Both of these.

Neither of these.

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Question 4 of 10

4. Why were Milo and Clodius so opposed to each other? Hint

Milo represented the "haves", while Clodius represented the "have-nots" of the Roman electorate, and had clashed many times before.

Clodius had an affair with Milo's wife, Fausta, and fathered a child with her.

Milo had an affair with Clodius' wife, Fulvia, who then left Clodius for him.

Their parents had hated each other and the sons carried on the feud.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Clodius and Milo encountered each other on the Appian Way. At what point in this encounter did the violence begin? Hint

As soon as the two parties saw each other.

As the two parties had just passed each other.

While the two parties were passing each other.

None of these.

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Question 6 of 10

6. When Clodius and Milo met each other on the Appian Way, which man was killed? Hint

Neither of these.

Milo.

Clodius.

Both of these.

7. After the fateful encounter between Milo and Clodius, the dead man's body was brought back to Rome. His supporters rioted, starting a fire in the forum. Which important buildings were destroyed? Hint

The Senate House, the Temple of Saturn and the Curia.

The Senate House, the Basilica Porcia and the Curia.

The House of the Vestal Virgins and the Rostra.

The Temple of Saturn, the Basilica Porcia and the Curia.

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Question 8 of 10

8. Our story so far: the political opponents Titus Annius Milo and Publius Clodius Pulcher encountered each other on the Appian Way. One emerged from the encounter dead. His supporters rioted, setting fire to the Forum. What other significant thing happened as a result of these riots? Hint

Pompey was elected sole consul for the next year.

Caesar was elected sole consul for the next year.

Pompey was elected dictator for the next 6 months.

Caesar was elected dictator for the next 6 months.

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Question 9 of 10

9. Either Clodius or Milo was killed on the Appian Way. Was it murder?

Yes

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Question 10 of 10

10. I'm not saying whether it was Milo or Clodius who was killed on the Appian Way, but did the person responsible for the death stand trial? Hint

Yes, and was acquitted.

No, he died of wounds incurred during the incident before he could be tried.

No, he fled before he could be tried.

Yes, and was convicted.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When Publius Clodius Pulcher and Titus Annius Milo met on the Appian Way, one of them died. When did this incident take place?

Answer: In the winter of 53-52 BCE.

Marcus Licinius Crassus had recently died, thus bringing an end to the "First Triumvirate" which had governed Rome for six years. This left Roman politics in disarray, setting the stage for our "incident".

2. At the time that one of them died, Milo and Clodius were both running for public office. Which one was standing for the office of praetor?

Answer: Clodius.

Milo was a praetor, and was trying to become consul - the highest political post in Rome. Unfortunately, the fallout from this incident ensured that nether man would hold office again.

3. When Clodius and Milo met on the Appian Way, one was going north, and one was going south. They each were accompanied by a large train. Who was leaving Rome?

Answer: Milo.

Clodius was returning from Aricia where he had been addressing the town council. Milo was leaving Rome, headed for Lanuvium, where he was due to choose a Flamen (a religious leader) the next day.

4. Why were Milo and Clodius so opposed to each other?

Answer: Milo represented the "haves", while Clodius represented the "have-nots" of the Roman electorate, and had clashed many times before.

Both men headed gangs which engaged in violence in support of their political ends. Milo was associated with Pompey Magnus, and used his gangs to intimidate where Pompey couldn't; Clodius performed the same "service" for Julius Caesar.

5. Clodius and Milo encountered each other on the Appian Way. At what point in this encounter did the violence begin?

Answer: As the two parties had just passed each other.

It is not known exactly how the conflict began, but the most commonly accepted explanation is that one of Milo's bodyguards said something insulting to one of Clodius' slaves.

6. When Clodius and Milo met each other on the Appian Way, which man was killed?

Answer: Clodius.

It is ironic to note that Publius Clodius Pulcher died on the road that his ancestor Appius Claudius Caecus built beginning in 312 BCE (Publius Clodius had changed his name from the aristocratic Claudius to the more common sounding Clodius).

Answer: The Senate House, the Basilica Porcia and the Curia.

The body was carried into the Senate House, where the furniture and documents present were used to start a funeral pyre. The fire spread to the Curia, and to the Basilica Porcia which had been attached to the Curia.

Answer: Pompey was elected sole consul for the next year.

Normally two consuls were elected each year, but this was seen as a compromise between electing Pompey dictator (as some urged), and electing the normal two consuls. It was thought that Pompey, who after all had cleared the pirates from the Mediterranean in only 40 days, could bring order to Rome.

9. Either Clodius or Milo was killed on the Appian Way. Was it murder?

Answer: Yes

Milo had not intended the battle in the first place, but when he heard that Clodius was wounded he knew that he was in trouble. He thought the trouble would be less if Clodius were not alive to accuse him, so he ordered his bodyguard to kill Clodius. The body was left in the middle of the Appian way where it was found by a senator on his way to Rome.

10. I'm not saying whether it was Milo or Clodius who was killed on the Appian Way, but did the person responsible for the death stand trial?

Answer: Yes, and was convicted.

Milo was to be defended by Marcus Tullius Cicero, but Cicero was shouted down by Clodius' partisans before he could get out much more than a few words of his speech. Milo was convicted, and went to exile in Massilia (modern day Marseille).

Source: Author tamrof

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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