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

attle; occasionally naming the commanders of the infantry and cavalry wings for
particularly important battle scenes. Secondly, to name Scipio at Cannae might cast a
shadow on his later reputation. Silius Italicus forces his readers to accept that, like many
other Romans at Cannae that day, Scipio probably ran away.
Silius Italicus also presents a number of figures whose names are replete with gentle
irony when considered in the context of that person‟s activity or the manner in which he
died. They are figures whose actions are closely connected with Hannibal, and
consequently denigrate Hannibal by association. For some, there is a difference of one
letter between their name and the association with their fate or role. Hence word-play in
the Punica, either written or spoken, deserves consideration, although modern readers,
with a preference for precision in meaning and spellings, may be inclined to suggest that
there is a problem with textual transmission.
Four examples, Murrus/Murus, Caicus/Caecus, Harpe/Harpie, Allius/Alius, are
discussed here. In the case of Murus/Murrus, the double „r‟ began to appear in
documents about 200 as evidenced by a bronze decree of L Aemilius Paullus, praetor in
Spain 192-190, which contains turri (ILS 15). Varro, Ling. Lat. 521, discussed the
etymology of „terra‟ from „teritur‟ and says that in an earlier period of the ancient
augural books, „terra‟ was spelt with one „r.‟ 459 Murrus 460 leads the defence of his city
and is particularly associated with the walls of Saguntum, a connection which Silius
makes explicit with Murrus‟ entrance into the text:
terribilem in sonitum procumbens aggere victo
Herculeus labor atque immania saxa resolvens
mugitum ingentem caeli dedit. Alpibus altis
aeriae rupes scopulorum mole revulsa
haud aliter scindunt resonanti fragmine montem.
surgebat cumulo certantum prorutus agger
obstabatque iacens vallum ni protinus instent
hinc atque hinc acies media pugnare ruina.
234
Pun. 1.368-75
The rampart gave way, the walls built by Hercules sank down with a
fearful crash, and the huge stones fell apart and a mighty rumbling of
the sky followed their fall. So the towering peaks of the high Alps,
when a mass of rock is torn away from them furrow the mountainside
459 Lockwood, 1969, 14.
460 Dominik, 2003: 478-9 draws strong connections between Murrus and Daunus‟ ancestries and Rome;
Murrus represents Roman values of loyalty, obedience to law and respect for the gods. Daunus is noted
for his oratory and protection of laws. Rawlings, 2005, 153, suggests Murrus is a mortal embodiment of
the Herculean wall.