Reputation Messalina

messalina working in brothel: etching agostino carracci, late 16th century

the historians relay such stories, principally tacitus , suetonius, wrote 70 years after events in environment hostile imperial line messalina had belonged. suetonius history largely scandal-mongering. tacitus claims transmitting heard , written elders without naming sources other memoirs of agrippina younger, had arranged displace messalina s children in imperial succession , therefore particularly interested in blackening predecessor s name. has been argued passes history largely result of political sanctions followed death.

accusations of sexual excess tried , tested smear tactic , result of politically motivated hostility . 2 accounts have added notoriety. 1 story of all-night sex competition prostitute in book x of pliny elder s natural history, according competition lasted 24 hours , messalina won score of 25 partners. poet juvenal gives equally known description in sixth satire of how empress used work clandestinely night in brothel under name of she-wolf. alludes story of how compelled gaius silius divorce wife , marry in satire x.