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

Chapter 5: Invading Campania, 217 and 216
The first section of this chapter compares the treatments of one of the most famous and
more bizarre of the „Hannibal‟ stories: Hannibal‟s incursion into the ager Falernus
which ended with his legendary night-time escape past Roman sentries when he
distracted their attention with oxen that had burning faggots tied to their horns. While
the basic core of the story remains the same across the texts, the variations in the
circumstances suggest that many details, such as exactly „when‟ and „where‟ it took
place quickly became uncertain, perhaps the effect of retelling a popular, highly
dramatic tale.
The representations of Hannibal vary from Polybius depicting him deliberately
staging a dramatic exit to Livy representing him making a mistake over Latin
pronunciation and tricking his way out of a trap. Silius Italicus will be shown to weave
elements from both of these traditions into the Punica as well as presenting a more
pragmatic „truth,‟ also hinted at by Livy, which may underlie the story of the oxen.
The second section compares the treatments of Hannibal‟s takeover and occupation
of Capua in 216, and the reputedly detrimental effects of Capuan wealth and luxury on
Hannibal and his men. Primarily the texts present the ease with which Hannibal took
control of Capua in moral terms which leads to some interesting disconnections as
authors have to balance the claim and its implications against later representations of
Hannibal. Indeed, the focus on Capuan moral degradation is so strong in the
historiographic texts that the „historic‟ details of how, exactly, Hannibal took control of
the town are a confused mix of the Capuans inviting Hannibal to their town (for
different reasons); negotiating a treaty, and/or surrendering (too easily) with further
differences over whether or not there was consensus amongst them to admit Hannibal.
The comparisons indicate that the material is adapted to illustrate whichever canonical
Roman moral an author considers to be most perverted, or missing at Capua or,
conversely, which canonical sins the author wishes to promote in either, or both, of
Hannibal and the Capuans. Once Hannibal enters the town, authors take the opportunity
to display aspects of Hannibal‟s character through a selection of scenes that illustrate
Hannibal‟s Punica fides: his greed, gluttony and tyranny.
Where it might be expected that an author would represent Hannibal and his army
becoming seduced and weakened by the effects of Capuan luxury, the texts are more
128