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Carthage - as the reason that the two parties should not now declare war (Hist. 3.21-33).
Livy‟s version names the Carthaginian spokesman as Hanno, who emphatically reminds
his fellow Carthaginians that their earlier defeat meant they should not rise in arms
against Rome because they had lost support from the gods (Livy, 21.10.2-13). Hanno
has a second speech in Livy‟s text, but it is much later in the narrative, responding to
Mago‟s report on Hannibal‟s victory at Cannae; it is included here because Silius
Italicus seems to respond to a couple of points in it through his presentation of the first
debate.
Livy‟s Hanno warns everyone that the Romans had not sued for peace despite their
defeat at Cannae, citing the First Punic War as an example of Rome‟s uncompromising
attitude which led them to ultimate victory despite suffering significant defeats: Lutatio
et Postumio consulibus devicti ad Aegatis insulas sumus (Livy, 23.13.4). An angry
Carthaginian reply draws attention, among other things, to Hanno‟s use of the Roman
consular dating system in his speech: audiamus Romanum senatorem in
Carthaginiensium curia (Livy 23.12.7). The response may suggest Hanno is pro-Roman
but it may also be an indicator to the reader of the ahistorical nature of Hanno‟s speech.
Silius Italicus represents the first debate at Carthage with direct speeches by two
opposing figures, Hanno and Gestar (Pun. 2.279-326; 2.330-374). In a summation of the
debate before the speeches Silius Italicus refers to knowledge of the ratified treaty from
the First Punic War causing disquiet among some senators (Pun. 2.273-6). Hanno is
introduced as a hereditary foe of Hannibal with familial opposition stretching back to
mythical times (Pun. 2.277). Hanno reminds everyone of their previous defeat off the
Aegetian islands (Pun. 2.310) and argues that it would be folly to embark on war
because the Roman soldier has a spirit that never dies (Pun. 2.315-326). In Gestar‟s
angry reply he asks if there was a Roman soldier sitting in their Senate: Ausonius miles
sedet (Pun. 2.331) which echoes the anonymous Carthaginian reply in Livy querying the
use of the Roman dating system. Silius Italicus presents Hanno arguing that they should
surrender Hannibal for breaking the treaty by attacking Saguntum (Pun. 2.376-7). Thus
Silius Italicus combines the arguments given in each of the historiographical texts for
not going to war and emphatically presents Hannibal as a treaty-breaker. In addition, it
is only in the Punica where the Carthaginians are depicted discussing the „contemporary
issue‟ of Hannibal.
Furthermore, in the Punica, it is Mago, not Hanno, who alludes to the outcome of the
First Punic War in the report on Cannae to the Carthaginian Senate. Mago justifiably
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