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

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ὄθξα θαὶ νὐθ ἐζέισλ ηηο ἀλαγθαίῃ πνιεκίδνη.<br />

176<br />

Iliad 4.300<br />

Even those reluctant to fight should be forced to take part in the battle<br />

Scott-Kilvert, 1979, 478.<br />

<strong>The</strong> comparison of Hannibal to Agamemnon not only connects Hannibal to the mythical<br />

king of the Iliad but also links him to the heroic figure of Greek Tragedy; arguably a<br />

fitting representation of Hannibal. <strong>The</strong> Loeb and Teubner editions bracket a phrase at<br />

Hist. 15.13.1, that the whole battle was hand to hand [the men using neither spears nor<br />

swords.] 378<br />

<strong>The</strong> provenance of Polybius‟ final proverb comparing Hannibal and Scipio is not<br />

known, but may be from a Hellenistic poem: a brave man meets another braver yet: 379<br />

ἐζζιὸο ἐὼλ ἄιινπ θξείηηνλνο ἀληέηπρελ (Hist. 15.16.6). 380 Polybius attributes<br />

Hannibal‟s defeat to a mix of bad luck and being up against a better man; the corollary<br />

for Scipio being a combination of personal merit and good fortune. 381<br />

Livy applies a different technique of exaggeration for Zama as he focuses on the<br />

personal qualities of Scipio and Hannibal, the bravery of their respective armies, as well<br />

as describing Rome and Carthage as the two wealthiest powers of the day:<br />

ad hoc discrimen procedunt postero die duorum opulentissimorum<br />

populorum duo longe clarissimi duces, duo fortissimi exercitus, multa<br />

ante parta decora aut cumulaturi eo die aut eversuri<br />

Livy, 30.32.4<br />

For this decision on the following day two most distinguished generals<br />

by a long way, and two of the bravest armies of the two wealthiest<br />

nations went out, either to crown the many distinctions previously won<br />

or to bring them to nothing.<br />

Adapted from Moore, 1955, 487<br />

Zama is the grand finale for the Punica. Silius indicates the significance of Zama<br />

when Jupiter and Juno converse and Jupiter decides on the fates of Hannibal and of<br />

Carthage (Pun. 17.371-85). Yet Zama also marks the „beginning of the end‟ for Silius<br />

with the rise of Scipio and, in due course, Caesar claiming divine heritage (Pun. 17.653-<br />

4). 382 <strong>The</strong> link was created in Punica 3 between Zama and Thapsus as common sites of<br />

378<br />

Paton, 2000, 498. Note b.<br />

379<br />

Paton, 2000, 501.<br />

380<br />

Walbank, 1967, 464, summarises the arguments for Hellenistic epigram; the killing of Eurypylus by<br />

Neoptolemus; or a quote from <strong>The</strong>ognis.<br />

381<br />

See Fears, 1981, 760-1 for discussion on Polybius‟ use of luck and personal merit.<br />

382 Also Boyle, 1991, 303.

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