SLC Thesis Template - ResearchSpace@Auckland - The University ...

Plutarch has a slightly different version and implies that the insignia had already been
removed which meant that Lentulus had trouble recognising Paulus (Plutarch, Fab.
Max., 16.6).
Varro has no contact with Hannibal
On the day that Varro has command at Cannae, he exercised his right to lead out the
Roman army for battle (Hist. 3.113.1; Livy, 22.45.5). 284 In the Punica he continues onto
the battlefield in defiance of the bloodied message on a shield left by Solimus: fuge
proelia Varro (Pun. 9.175). Varro, having command for the day, was also responsible
for signalling the Roman withdrawal (Appian, Hann. 4.23).
Polybius‟ overall treatment of Varro is minimalist. There is a brief
acknowledgement of Varro‟s election to the consulship (Hist. 3.106.1) but the emphasis
in the text is on Paulus‟ „seniority‟ in experience and Varro‟s cowardice (Hist.
3.108.1). 285 Furthermore, Polybius‟ battle narrative concerning Varro at Cannae requires
the audience to assume that Varro is the commander concerned because Polybius does
not name him after his initial description of disposition of forces. Varro commands the
allied cavalry opposite Hanno and is kept occupied by the Numidians (Hist. 3.114.6).
After Hasdrubal defeats the Roman cavalry (led by Paulus), he moves across the
battlefield to face Varro‟s wing and prepares to charge. At the sight of Hasdrubal‟s
preparation (even before the actual charge!), Varro runs away, leaving Hasdrubal free to
attack the Roman rear (Hist. 3.116.5-8). Polybius elides the threat of encirclement that
would result and make the call for retreat a reasonable decision, not despicable, as his
text implies. His final disparaging comment on Varro is that the decision to flee was as
much a disgrace to himself as his consulship had been a disgrace to Rome (Hist.
3.116.13).
Livy‟s treatment of Varro is negative, but through its similarity to Flaminius, 286 not
through contrast to Paulus. Hence Varro is no coward, but rash, because he leads the
charge to begin fighting (Livy, 22.47.1) although, perversely, the fighting on his wing is
284 Potter, 2004, 76: „Varro is hardly to be criticised for seeking decisive battle…the Roman people did
not vote the consuls an especially large army to hide in the hills: they expected them to fight Hannibal and
end the war.‟
285 Walbank, I, 448: suggests Polybius‟ portrayal of Varro is derived from Fabius (Pictor) to equate with
the later portrait of Fabius Maximus reputedly leading the spirit of magnanimity toward Varro.
286 Varro‟s similarity to Flaminius is indicated through parallel omens at their respective elections, and if
this connection is missed by some in Livy‟s audience, there is a reminder in Fabius‟ address to Paulus
about Varro ominis etiam tibi causa absit C Flamini memoria (Livy, 22.39.6).
115