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Livy presents Rome‟s resistance to Hannibal as a climactic moment of triumph for
Rome and the scene forms the centrepiece of the third decad (Livy, 26). The fragments
of Polybius‟ text suggest from his focus of attention that he prioritised the intriguing
military situation at Capua in 211 over Hannibal‟s march on Rome (Hist. 9.3-11) and
neither is treated as a pivotal event. Silius Italicus admittedly devotes a substantial part
of Punica 12 to Hannibal‟s march on Rome and treats it as a turning point for Rome‟s
fortunes, but it is not the central event in the Punica (Pun. 12.479-752).
Nonetheless, even historiographical texts hint at factors beyond human control
assisting in forcing Hannibal‟s departure from outside the city in 211. Polybius says that
„luck‟ played a part in turning Hannibal away while Livy brings Jupiter into his
narrative through a prophetic speech by Fabius Maximus:
Romam cum eo exercitu qui ad urbem esset Iovem foederum ruptorum
ab Hannibale testem deosque alios defensuros esse.
Livy, 26.8.5
As for Rome, Jupiter, witness of the treaties broken by Hannibal, and
the other gods would defend her with the aid of the army stationed at
the city.
Moore, 1970, 31
When, according to Livy, Hannibal appears outside the walls and the Romans prepare
for battle, natural forces (hailstorms) intervene, preventing any action. This
phenomenon occurs for two days running and eventually Hannibal leaves the area but it
is left for Livy‟s audience to draw any connection between Fabius‟ prophecy and
interpreting the subsequent natural phenomena of hailstorms as acts of defence by
Jupiter (Livy, 26.11.12).
Among the late republican poets, Propertius presents a belief that it was due to
Roman piety that the gods and Lares responded to their prayers and drove Hannibal
away from Rome (Propertius, 3.3.10-11). An emphatic remark by the Hadrianic writer,
Florus, suggests that the involvement of gods in historiographical texts for the defence
of Rome in 211 was the subject of some discussion:
Quid ergo miramur moventi castra a tertio lapide Annibali iterum
ipsos deos, deos inquam nec fateri pudebit restitisse? Tanta enim ad
singulos illius motus vis imbrium effusa est, tanta ventorum violentia
coorta est, ut divinitus hostem summoveri non a caelo sed ab urbis
ipsius moenibus et Capitolio videretur.
Florus, 1.22.44-5
70