Le parole private di Lucrezia. Violenza, vendetta, morte e Roma diviene repubblica.

This paper deals with the legendary story of Lucretia, a Roman matron. The sexual violence she suffered led to the end of the monarchy and the beginning of the Republican government. The paper examines the short speech attributed to Lucretia by ancient sources and, in particular, the role it assigns to women in Roman society. It investigates the reasons why Lucretia, a woman, was able to speak and intervene in community. It is hypothesized that important aspects of this legend were rewritten during the Augustan age to contribute to the princeps’ revision of the role of women.