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

Polybius, Livy and Silius Italicus favour different traditions over a number of other
aspects around Hannibal‟s march on Rome. One such difference is whether or not to
present it as a well-kept secret which leads to differences between them over when they
present scenes of panic at Rome. One of the points in common between them is that
Hannibal‟s departure from Capua was intended to be a secret; all three describe
Hannibal slipping away with his army under cover of darkness while leaving campfires
burning as a ruse to deceive the Roman besiegers (Hist. 9.5.7; Pun. 12.508; Livy
26.7.10).
Polybius arranges his narrative to show how, by keeping the plan a well-kept secret,
it backfires on Hannibal (Hist. 9.4.6-8). Hannibal hopes that by leaving at night and
suddenly appearing outside Rome, the mere sight of him would cause such panic that
the Romans would either recall Appius Claudius, or require Appius to split his forces
and thus give Hannibal a better chance of victory by fighting two smaller forces (Hist.
9.4.8). Polybius adds a further point which becomes relevant in later representations,
that Hannibal was increasingly concerned that his own army might, in its turn, be
attacked or besieged by Roman legions sent to Capua under the new consuls. Thus
Hannibal hopes to prevent or disrupt the enlistment process as well as defeat the Roman
recruits before they are properly trained (Hist. 9.4.5).
Hannibal sends a messenger to advise the besieged Capuans of his plan, and
successfully maintains the element of surprise (Hist. 9.5.1). His sudden arrival outside
Rome comes as a complete shock to those in the city, causing scenes of panic and
consternation to a degree never seen before, even after Cannae. Women even sweep
temple pavements with their hair, a custom that Polybius says only occurs at moments
of extreme danger:
Οὗ γελνκέλνπ θαὶ πξνζπεζόληνο εἰο ηὴλ Ῥώκελ, εἰο ὁινζρεξῆ ζπλέβε
ηαξαρὴλ θαὶ θόβνλ ἐκπεζεῖλ ηνὺο θαηὰ ηὴλ πόιηλ, ἅηε ηνῦ πξάγκαηνο
αἰθληδίνπ κὲλ ὄληνο θαὶ ηειέσο ἀλειπίζηνπ δηὰ ηὸ κεδέπνηε ηὸλ
Ἀλλίβαλ ἐπὶ ηνζνῦηνλ ἀπεξθέλαη ηῆο πόιεσο, ὑπνηξερνύζεο δέ ηηλνο
ἅκα θαὶ ηνηαύηεο ἐλλνίαο ὡο νὐρ νἷόλ ηε ηνὺο ἐλαληίνπο ἐπὶ ηνζνῦηνλ
ἐγγίζαη θαὶ θαηαζαξξῆζαη κὴ νὐ ηῶλ πεξὶ Καπύελ ζηξαηνπέδσλ
ἀπνισιόησλ. δηόπεξ νἱ κὲλ ἄλδξεο ηὰ ηείρε πξνθαηειάκβαλνλ θαὶ
ηνὺο πξὸ ηῆο πόιεσο εὐθαίξνπο ηόπνπο, αἱ δὲ γπλαῖθεο
πεξηπνξεπόκελαη ηνὺο λανὺο ἱθέηεπνλ ηνὺο ζενύο, πιύλνπζαη ηαῖο
θόκαηο ηὰ ηῶλ ἱεξῶλ ἐδάθε. ηνῦην γὰξ αὐηαῖο ἔζνο ἐζηὶ πνηεῖλ, ὅηαλ
ηηο ὁινζρεξὴο ηὴλ παηξίδα θαηαιακβάλῃ θίλδπλνο.
Hist. 9.6.1-4
72