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Chapter 6: Hannibalis sat nomen erat
Hannibal‟s name was enough
154
Punica, 16.19
The fall of Capua back into Roman hands cost Hannibal a measure of prestige among
Italian towns, but it was by no means the end of his war. His determination to continue
is reflected in two further invasions of Italy in 207 and 205 led by Hasdrubal and Mago
respectively, and if either had been successful in linking with Hannibal, the outcome of
the war may have been different. Even so, Hannibal remained in Italy at least until
autumn 203.
The representations of Hannibal in relation to these events and Zama are explored in
this chapter. The chapter is divided into four sections which examine, firstly, the
tradition that Hannibal remained undefeated throughout the time he was in Italy;
secondly the treatments of the two Carthaginian invasions of Italy in 207 and 205;
thirdly the presentations of Hannibal‟s departure from Italy, and fourthly, the treatments
of Zama 358 as an iconic event. This last has subsections focussed on the presentations of
a meeting between Scipio and Hannibal prior to battle, the patterning of their speeches
and harangues, and the features that glorify the battle itself, particularly in terms of what
the protagonists thought they were fighting for.
The depictions of Hannibal in all of these circumstances are shown to be strongly
influenced by an author‟s portrayal of Scipio Africanus. Wiseman 359 argues that the
Scipio myth is derived from the presentations in the Histories and the Punica which
recognises the correlation between these two texts, but accepting his view dates the
development of the Scipio myth to the post-Flavian period whereas it is argued here that
the Scipio myth was pervasive from an earlier period and underlies even those authors,
such as Livy, who attempt to limit the significance of Scipio.
Hannibal‟s persistence against Rome meant that for generations after his death, he
remained the most feared of all Rome‟s enemies: parentibusque abominatus Hannibal
358
For discussions on the historic event of Zama, see Scullard, 1970, 140-160; Goldswothy, 2001, 286-
309.
359
Wiseman, 2004, 177 argues that Scipio Africanus was the first historic Roman figure to be assigned
divine parentage.