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

elieving that only Hasdrubal‟s untimely death prevented him from taking action
against Rome (Hist. 3.12.3-4).
Livy‟s portrayal of Hasdrubal is quite different, although, in Roman terms, it is still
negative. Hasdrubal prefers diplomacy or bribery, not force of arms, in order to gain
influence over the Spanish tribes, and, in keeping with a diplomatic persona, instead of
preparing for war, he renews a treaty with Rome foedus renovaverat (Livy, 21.2.7).
Simultaneously, this representation of Hasdrubal fulfils a literary role as a contrast
figure sandwiched between the more aggressive Hamilcar and Hannibal figures.
Cornelius Nepos similarly draws a negative portrait of Hasdrubal that is not aggressive,
describing him as the first person to undermine the mores of the Carthaginians through
the use of bribery (Nepos, Hamilcar, 3.3).
Cornelius Nepos includes a colourful rumour about Hasdrubal as Hamilcar Barca‟s
toyboy and when other Carthaginians attempt to break the liaison, Hamilcar makes
Hasdrubal his son-in-law (Cornelius Nepos, Hamilcar, 3.2). Cornelius Nepos‟ treatment
of Hasdrubal contrasts with his surprisingly respectful introduction to the Hamilcar and
Hannibal biographies:
De quibus quoniam satis dictum putamus, non incommodum videtur
non praeterire Hamilcarem et Hannibalem, quos et animi magnitudine
et calliditate omnes in Africa natos praestitisse constat.
45
Cornelius Nepos, De regibus, 3.5
Since I think that I have said enough about these kings, it seems fitting
not to pass over Hamilcar and Hannibal, who are generally admitted to
have surpassed all men of African birth in greatness of soul and
sagacity.
Rolfe, 1984, 253.
This assessment may be drawn from an earlier tradition because Plutarch quotes Cato
the Elder as writing that kings, even those with great reputations, could not be compared
to Epaminondas, Pericles, Thermistocles or Hamilcar Barca (Plutarch, Cato the Elder,
8).
Silius Italicus creates a dramatic vignette as the backdrop to Hannibal‟s rise to power
in Spain that draws on certain aspects of the different traditions found in each of