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sudden appearance outside Rome causing panic with Fulvius Flaccus‟ timely arrival to
save the city.
The other substantial difference between these texts arises from their respective
treatments of individual Romans, in particular Fulvius Flaccus, Appius Claudius and
Fabius Maximus. These treatments may reflect the variety of available traditions
between different Roman families in ancient times, but there is a distinct impression that
Silius Italicus responds to each of Polybius and Livy in respect of these figures.
The defence of Rome in 211, irrespective of genre, is explained in supernatural
terms. These, like Hannibal‟s ever-closer approach to the city, become noticeably more
explicit over time if considered as progressing from Polybian „luck‟ through Livy‟s two
days of hailstorms to direct intervention by Jupiter and Juno in the Punica and Florus‟
reference to authors (and audience) accepting the roles of the gods defending the city in
historiographical texts.
Representations of Hannibal marching on Rome before 211
Hannibal is sometimes represented as marching to Rome or considering marching to
Rome prior to 211 especially after certain victories, but for various reasons it does not
happen. The explanations, however, for Hannibal not marching on Rome, are not
concerned with his lack of resources to attack a walled city, his distance from the city or
other pragmatic reasons, but instead they relate to his state of mind, natural forces or
divine intervention. The emphasis on such reasons as Hannibal‟s state of mind or natural
phenomena allows for these representations to be read as literary motifs and compared
as foreshadowing features in relation to his actual appearance in 211. This interpretation
is supported by the frequency with which these representations are located in the texts
prior 211; the patterning of Hannibal‟s threats to the city in Livy‟s text is particularly
striking, and discussed first before the more general comparisons.
Livy’s theme of Hannibal marching on Rome
Hiberum traiecisse ad delendum nomen Romanorum liberandumque
orbem terrarum.
Livy, 21.30.3
They had crossed the Ebro, in order to wipe out the name of the
Romans and liberate the world.
Adapted from Foster, 1949, 87.
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