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

prevent the Romans from recruiting men within Italy. His advice continued to be that
Antiochus should invade Italy and plan on using Italian supplies and recruits (Livy,
34.60.2). Cornelius Nepos remarks that if Antiochus had followed Hannibal‟s advice the
battle for power in the Mediterranean may well have been fought nearer the Tiber than
Thermopylae (Cornelius Nepos, Hann. 8.3).
Livy‟s unfolding narrative shows how Hannibal‟s advice was not followed. By the
time that Hannibal convinced Antiochus to adopt his strategy it was too late, the
necessary support from Carthage has dissipated (if it had even existed). Three years is a
long time in politics, ancient and modern. When Hannibal‟s agent, Aristo, contacts the
Carthaginians on his behalf, they report the matter to Rome; Aristo himself manages to
escape (Livy, 34.61.1; cf. Justinian, 31.4.1; Appian, Syriaca, 7.29). Whether or not the
convoluted story has any historical foundation, 426 it specifically associates Hannibal
with the suggestion of an invasion of Italy, with all the memories that invokes for Livy‟s
readership. It is an association that Livy repeats again, two books later.
Livy gives Hannibal a substantial speech in which he supports the Acarnanian
general, Alexander, urging Antiochus to make a treaty with Philip of Macedon, and not
to rely on the Boeotians and Thessalians for support. Hannibal‟s view of the overall
strategy is unchanged, repeating his earlier argument that Antiochus should invade Italy,
with the added note that nothing would frighten the Romans more than the thought that
Hannibal was in Italy: et, qui maximus iis terror est, Hannibalem in Italia esse audirent
(Livy, 36.7). Hannibal‟s point about the psychological effect on Rome of invading Italy
is good but, once again, his advice is not taken (Livy, 36.8.1). 427
The next time Livy depicts Hannibal advising Antiochus the circumstances have
changed. Antiochus had been defeated by the Romans 428 and was back in Ephesus.
Hannibal is presented as the only one of the king‟s advisors warning him to prepare for
a Roman invasion of Asia. Indeed, Hannibal declares that he was more surprised that the
Roman legions had not landed yet:
426 It is questionable whether Greek generals would seriously urge warfare in their own lands in
preference to drawing the Roman legions out to fight elsewhere.
427 Philip had been defeated; his son, Demetrius, was held hostage at Rome. Eventually Philip is rewarded
for his loyalty with his son‟s release and a promised refund on the indemnity (Hist. 21.1). The political
divisions in Greece, as predicted by Hannibal, divert Antiochus‟ attention from the main goal, Rome.
There is another distraction that signals defeat for Antiochus: his new marriage (Hist. 20.8; Livy, 36.15).
428 Antiochus had two significant defeats, at Thermopylae, 191, and Magnesia, 190. For discussion of the
history, see Errington, 1989, CAH 8, 272-82.
201