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describes Flamininus language as menacing and presents Hannibal describing himself as
a guest of Prusias (Livy, 39.51.12). Plutarch, too, describes Prusias attempting to
intercede on behalf of Hannibal as a friend (Plutarch, Flamininus, 20.3).
Livy‟s description of Hannibal living in a house under guard suggests that he was a
prisoner or that Prusias may have planned on killing him in order to show support for
Rome. Hannibal is given some „last words‟ in direct speech before taking poison:
„Liberemus,‟ inquit „diuturna cura populum Romanum, quando
mortem senis exspectare longum censent. Nec magnam nec
memorabilem ex inermi proditoque Flamininus victoriam feret. Mores
quidem populi Romani quantum mutaverint, vel hic dies argumento
erit. Horum patres Pyrrho regi, hosti armato, exercitum in Italia
habenti, ut a veneno caveret praedixerunt: hi legatum consularem, qui
auctor esset Prusiae per scelus occidendi hospitis, miserunt.‟
Exsecratus deinde in caput regnumque Prusiae et hospitales deos
violatae ab eo fidei testes invocans, poculum exhausit. Hic vitae exitus
fuit Hannibalis.
Livy, 39.51.11-12
„Let us,‟ he said, „relieve the Roman people of their long anxiety,
since they find it tedious to wait for the death of an old man. Neither
magnificent nor memorable will be the victory which Flamininus will
win over a man unarmed and betrayed. How much the manners of the
Roman people have changed, this day in truth will prove. Their fathers
sent word to King Pyrrhus, an enemy in arms, commanding an army in
Italy, warning him to beware of poison: these Romans have sent an
ambassador of consular rank to urge upon Prusias the crime of
murdering his guest.‟ Then, cursing the person and kingdom of Prusias
and calling upon the gods of hospitality to bear witness to his breach
of faith, he drained the cup. This was the end of the life of Hannibal.
Sage, 1983, 379-383.
Given that the speech is unlikely to be historical, Livy uses Hannibal‟s voice to express
some harsh judgements on the Romans, especially Flamininus, as well as Prusias. It is
an observation by Livy on the degradation of Roman morals over the space of
Hannibal‟s lifetime. In his view, Flamininus has gained nothing more than an inglorious
win over an ageing, unarmed and betrayed man; it is no great victory.
433 Polybius, not only as noted by Nepos but is also apparent from reading the Histories, frequently names
the consuls for a given year as he traces their activities. The Olympiads generally ran from July, and the
Roman consular year from March.
207