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Why then are we surprised that when Hannibal was moving his camp
forward from the third milestone, the gods, the gods, I say (and we
shall feel no shame in admitting their aid) again resisted his progress?
For at each advance of his, such a flood of rain fell and such violent
gales arose that he seemed to be repelled by the gods, not from heaven
but from the walls of the city itself and from the Capitol.
Edward Seymour Foster, 1995, 109.
Genre is not an issue for Silius Italicus who brings in the gods to the defence of Rome,
but firstly, while comparing Rome more favourably to Troy, Silius offers the most
pragmatic reason for what saved Rome: the strength of her walls (Pun. 1.16). Later, in
Punica 12 when Hannibal is outside the city, Silius presents a gradual increase in
Jupiter‟s intervention for the defence of Rome over the course of the three days of
Hannibal‟s attacks.
On the first day, while surveying the city from various vantage points, Hannibal
retreats at the sight of Flaccus approaching with his army (Pun. 12.559-574). Hannibal
cheers his men‟s spirits by reminding them of the Gauls‟ invasion of Rome in 390 and
urging them not to be put off by Roman claims of descent from Mars because the
Romans were accustomed to their city being taken! He hopes that the senators are sitting
on their curule chairs waiting for death, just as their ancestors once sat (Pun. 12.582-4).
On the second day, Hannibal and the Carthaginians are arrayed outside the walls,
Fulvius leads his army out to face the enemy, but Jupiter intervenes with a thunderstorm
and orders all the gods to help defend Rome (Pun. 12.600-626). Even Jupiter struggles
against Hannibal‟s determination despite using all the storms (wind, hail, rain etc) in his
armoury and, of course, his weapon of choice, thunderbolts. The epic Hannibal
continues to rally his men to fight despite his spear-tip melting and his sword fusing in
the heat (Pun. 12.622-629). It is only when the rainstorm became so thick and dark that
they could not see their enemies‟ swords that Hannibal retreated.
Mere hailstorms may have turned away Livy‟s Hannibal, but the epic Hannibal
returns again on the next day, ready to attack. The Romans, too, prepare to fight but
Jupiter intervenes once more. A black cloud and gale force winds force Hannibal‟s
retreat but it is still not enough. On the fourth day, when Hannibal reappears ready to
challenge again, Jupiter turns to Juno and instructs her to turn Hannibal away. Only by
revealing herself to Hannibal, and showing him the gods in the heavens preparing
themselves for battle, is Juno able to persuade Hannibal that he cannot win against
Jupiter and the other gods; it is time for him to leave Rome (Pun. 12.703-30).
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