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text is that everything is well organised and well orchestrated. The potential for disaster
is not recorded because Polybius‟ narrative does not remain with the Carthaginians but
turns to the Roman reaction.
Livy‟s description of the preparations is largely similar to Polybius, including the
unbelievably huge number of oxen and the involvement of Hasdrubal (Livy, 22.16.4-8).
An important difference is that Livy remains with the Carthaginians a little longer than
Polybius and shows how the plan quickly came close to chaos. Once the faggots were lit
the oxen, not surprisingly, went crazy with terror and quickly became unmanageable. As
they shook their heads in distress they fanned the flames and spread the fire further.
It is this point that Livy switches focus to the Roman guards at the pass. They think
that the woods and mountainside had been set on fire and fear that they might be
surrounded. Consequently they leave their posts to move toward the area with least
flames in order to find an escape route. In so doing, they come across some of the oxen
and Carthaginians, and, suspecting a trick to ambush them, they scatter (Livy, 22.17.1-
6). In the meantime, Fabius, aware of the noise, but also suspecting an ambush, keeps
his men within the camp (Livy, 22.18.1).
Polybius, on the other hand, describes how the Roman guards at the pass leave their
posts and bravely move toward the lights that they see moving up the slope. The guards
believe that Hannibal was preparing a night attack from that direction and they move to
intercept the Carthaginians. Unlike Livy, there is no reference to the oxen becoming
unmanageable or any indication that the fire spread to the hillside. Fabius remains in his
camp, and the Loeb translator, Paton, reads an analogy in Polybius‟ text comparing
Fabius to one of Odysseus‟ companions, Eurylochus: 324
Φάβηνο δὲ ηὰ κὲλ ἀπνξνύκελνο ἐπὶ ηῷ ζπκβαίλνληη θαὶ θαηὰ ηὸλ
πνηεηὴλ ὀηζζάκελνο δόινλ εἶλαη, ηὰ δὲ θαηὰ ηὴλ ἐμ ἀξρῆο ὑπόζεζηλ
νὐδακῶο θξίλσλ ἐθθπβεύεηλ νὐδὲ παξαβάιιεζζαη ηνῖο ὅινηο, ἦγε ηὴλ
ἡζπρίαλ ἐπὶ ηῷ ράξαθη θαὶ πξνζεδέρεην ηὴλ ἡκέξαλ.
134
Hist. 3.94.4
Fabius, partly because he was at a loss to know what was occurring,
and as Homer 325 says, deeming it to be a trick, and partly because he
adhered to his former resolve not to risk or hazard a general
engagement, remained quiet in his camp waiting for daylight.
Paton, 2001, 231
324 Paton, 2001, 231.
325 Homer is understood.