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| | Cyrino: Domina in a Blue Dress: The Sexual Authority of Atia of the Julii |
 | | The maternal bond with her daughter, Octavia, is more complicated, in that Atia attempts to incite the prim Octavia to a more robust sexuality, but is devastated to learn of Octavia’s erotic affair with her rival, Servilia. |
 | | Yet Atia is motivated by the most “masculine,” even characteristically Julian, of all goals – to secure the growing power of her family and establish a dynastic succession for her son. |
 | | In effecting her goals, Atia is certainly ruthless and even vicious, but she also exhibits the highest degree of purpose, integrity and loyalty to her family. |
| www.camws.org /southernsection/meeting2006/abstracts/cyrino.html (666 words) |
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