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Speeches are important signifiers in a text for many reasons quite apart from their
content. They are an integral part of Greek and Roman historiographical and epic
traditions and serve a variety of purposes. The location of a speech within its physical
and literary context, whether it is in direct or reported format, and in what sequence it is
placed against speeches by other characters, all reflect the author‟s priorities. The
earliest known discussion on the subject of speeches is in Thucydides‟ first Book where
Thucydides announced his decision to include speeches in his text insofar as he could
recall them, or failing that, to provide a speech that best fitted the occasion (Thucydides,
1.22).
In terms of structural detail there are interesting similarities and differences between
the use of speeches by Polybius, Livy, and Silius Italicus. All three texts present
Hannibal giving a speech at, or near, the top of an Alpine pass, for example, but they
differ from one another in content and in details of context, the reasons for which are
discussed in the second chapter. Similarly, there are nuanced differences between their
respective presentations of speeches shortly before the battle at Cannae, discussed in the
fourth chapter, and prior to Zama, discussed in the sixth chapter. Some of these
differences may be considered minor, such as a reversal of ordering, but, in the context
of the hierarchical nature of ancient Roman society and ancient rhetorical theory, these
sequences are important and revealing about the author‟s priorities, the contemporary
reception of the text, and the representation of Hannibal.
Whilst the extant speeches under discussion might just conceivably be faithful
transcriptions 65 of an original oration, it is more likely that they are either the product of
an author editing a predecessor‟s version, or entirely composed by the author to suit a
given occasion and fulfil a particular characterisation. The frequency of speeches being
„paired‟ either by content, or position, or a combination of both, in the texts argues
against the content being a faithful transcription of an original speech. This
interpretation is further supported by the fact that many of the speeches contain readily
identifiable inter- and intra- textual connections; these connections are particularly
noticeable for speeches within and between Livy and Silius Italicus‟ Punica, but it will
be shown that they also apply to certain speeches in Polybius. As Walbank comments
„the two harangues by Hannibal and Scipio prior to the Ticinus River (Hist. 3.63-4) are
65 Luce, 1997, 129 notes Polybius‟ „concern with the truth‟ and that speeches should reflect what was said
at the time (Hist. 2.56 cf. 29.12; 36.1).
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