Definition: The Lesbia of Catullus' love poems, Clodia was an infamous and promiscuous woman, the sister of an equally scandalous brother, the patrician who had himself adopted into a plebian family and changed his name from Claudius to Clodius Pulcher. When Clodius changed his name, so did Clodia.
Clodia married Q. Caecilius Metellus Celer, but had affairs with Marcus Caelius Rufus --and presumably Catullus. She was said to have been intimate with her brother Clodius, as well.
When Caelius broke off the relationship with Clodia, Clodia responded by making accusations against him. Caelius chose Cicero to defend him. In the Pro Caelio, Cicero's literary account of what he said in defense of Caelio, Cicero accuses Clodia of various indecencies.
Also Known As: Lesbia, Claudia
