place
Melita
also: Malta
Malta (Melita), the island between Sicily and Africa, in Cicero's day part of the Roman province of Sicily; famous for the cult of Juno on its ancient promontory and for its fine textiles. Verres set up a women's-clothing workshop there for his own profit (Verr. 2.4.103). Cicero considered Melita as a possible refuge in his exile of 58 (Ad Att. 3.4).
Reading notes
- Ad Atticum 3.4 §1 being at Malta was not allowed
Malta (Melita) lay too close to Italy to satisfy the law's distance clause, so Cicero could not take refuge there. He redirects toward Brundisium and the longer crossing east.
- Ad Atticum 10.7 §1 rather on Malta or in some other little town like it
Malta (Melita), a quiet island away from the fighting, recurs in these letters as Cicero's preferred neutral refuge; he hopes to sit out the war there rather than join Pompey's battle-line.
- Ad Atticum 10.9 §1 So let us make for Malta, I think, until something happens in Spain
Malta remains Cicero's chosen neutral bolt-hole, where he means to wait out the Spanish campaign before committing. The whole letter turns on his paralysis between Caesar's offered safety and loyalty to Pompey.