Livy Book 30
Index
The Author
Livy (Titus Livius), the great Roman historian, was born at or near Patavium (Padua) in 64 or 59 BC; he may have lived mostly in Rome but died at Patavium, in AD 12 or 17.
Livy's only extant work is part of his history of Rome from the foundation of the city to 9 BC. Of its 142 books, we have just 35, and short summaries of all the rest except two. The whole work was, long after his death, divided into Decades or series of ten. Books 1–10 we have entire; books 11–20 are lost; books 21–45 are entire, except parts of 41 and 43–45. Of the rest only fragments and the summaries remain. In splendid style Livy, a man of wide sympathies and proud of Rome's past, presented an uncritical but clear and living narrative of the rise of Rome to greatness.
Livy's Style
From the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
"In the singularly varied and beautiful style of Livy we find Latin prose in rich maturity. To a training in the rhetorical schools, and perhaps professional experience as a teacher of rhetoric, he added a thorough familiarity with contemporary poetry and with the Greek language; and these attainments have all deeply coloured his language.
It is probable that the variety of style naturally suggested by the wide range of his subject matter was increased by a half-unconscious adoption of the phrases and constructions of the different authorities whom he followed in different parts of his work; and the industry of German critics has gone far to demonstrate a conclusion likely enough in itself.
Hence perhaps comes the fairly long list of archaisms, especially in formulae (cf. Kuhnast, Liv. Synt. pp. 14-18). These are, however, purely isolated phenomena, which do not affect the general tone.
It is different with the poetical constructions and Graecisms, which appear on every page. Of the latter we find numerous instances in the use of the cases, e.g.
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in genitives like via praedae omissae, oppidum Antiochiae, aequum campi;
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in datives like quibusdam volentibus erat;
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in accusatives like jurare calumniam, certare multam;
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an especially frequent use of transitive verbs absolutely;
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and the constant omission of the reflexive pronoun as the subject of an infinitive in reported speech.
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To the same source must be assigned the very frequent pregnant construction with prepositions,
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an attraction of relatives, and
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the great extension of the employment of relative adverbs of place instead of relative pronouns, e.g. quo =in quem.
Among his poetical characteristics we may place
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the extensive list of words which are found for the first time in his works and in those of Virgil or Ovid,
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and perhaps his common use of concrete words for collective, e.g. eques for equitatus,
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of abstract terms such as remigium, servitia, robora,
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and of frequentative verbs,
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to say nothing of poetical phrases like haec ubi dicta dedit, adversum montium, &c.
Indications of the extended use of the subjunctive, which he shares with contemporary writers, especially poets, are found in the construction of ante quam, post quam with this mood, even when there is no underlying notion of anticipation, of donec, and of cum meaning whenever. On the other hand, forsitan and quamvis, as in the poets, are used with the indicative in forgetfulness of their original force.
Among his individual peculiarities may be noticed
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the large number of verbal nouns in -tus (for which Cicero prefers forms in -tio) and in -tor,
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and the extensive use of the past passive participle to replace an abstract substantive, e.g. ex dictatorio imperio concusso.
In the arrangement of words Livy is much more free than any previous prose writer, aiming, like the poets, at the most effective order. His periods are constructed with less regularity than those of Cicero, but they gain at least as much in variety and energy as they lose in uniformity of rhythm and artistic finish. His style cannot be more fitly described than in the language of Quintilian, who speaks of his
mira iucunditas and
lactea ubertas."
"How satisfying to the ear and taste are the periods of Livy when he is putting into Latin the heavy and uncouth clauses of Polybius!" - Encyclopedia Britannica 1911 edition.
Overview of the history
INVASION OF AFRICA.
Scipio, on his return from Spain, urged an immediate invasion of Africa. He was elected Consul in 205, receiving Sicily as his province, with permission to cross into Africa if it seemed to him wise. He was so popular that voluntary contributions of men, money, and supplies poured in from all sides. The old-fashioned aristocracy, however, did not like him, as his taste for splendid living and Greek culture was particularly offensive to them; and a party in the Senate would have recalled him, had not the popular enthusiasm in his favor been too strong to be resisted.
In 204 he sailed from Lilybaeum, and landed near Utica. He was welcomed by Masinissa, whose friendship he had gained in his previous visit to Africa from Spain. Syphax, however, sided with Carthage; but in 203 Scipio twice defeated him and the Carthaginian forces.
Negotiations for peace followed, but the war party in Carthage prevailed. Hannibal was recalled. He returned to fight his last battle with Rome, October 19, 202, at ZAMA, a short distance west of Carthage. The issue was decided by the valour of the Roman legions, who loved their commander and trusted his skill. Hannibal met his first and only defeat, and Scipio won his title of AFRICÁNUS. The battle was a hard one. After all the newly enrolled troops of Hannibal had been killed or put to flight, his veterans, who had remained by him in Italy, although surrounded on all sides by forces far outnumbering their own, fought on, and were killed one by one around their beloved chief. The army was fairly annihilated. Hannibal, with only a handful, managed to escape to Hadrumétum.
The battle of Zama decided the fate of the West. The power of Carthage was broken, and her supremacy passed to Rome.
The OCR selections from book 30
AS
(i) 3.8 (hibernacula) - 6 (incendit) and 12 (ibi Syphax) - 15 (potiundae)
(ii) 30 (summotis) - 35 (impetranda esse)
A2
(i) 2.9 (et novas) - 6 (incendit) and 12 (ibi Syphax) - 15 (potiundae)
(ii) 30 (summotis) - 35 (impetranda esse) and 37 (postero die - non esse)
This selection remains unchanged from that set for examination in June 2005.
Chapter topics in Livy 30
1-2 Allotment of troops;
prodigies
3-7 Scipio burns Carthaginian and Numidian camps
8 Scipio defeats Carthaginians at Great Plains
9-10 Scipio survives attack by Carthaginian fleet
11-15 Defeat of Syphax, marriage of Sophinisba and Masinissa; death of Sophonisba
16 Scipio and Carthaginians make armistice
17 Senate hears envoys from Scipio and Masinissa
18-19 Mago is defeated and leaves Italy
20 Hannibal leaves Italy
21 Reaction in Rome to departure of Mago and Hannibal
22-23 Senate refuses Carthaginian offer of peace
24-25 Carthaginians seize Roman ships and attack Roman envoys; Hannibal arrives in Africa
26-27 Miscellaneous events in Rome
28 Anxieties and hope in Rome as Scipio prepares to meet Hannibal
29-31 Conversation between Hannibal and Scipio at Zama
32-35 Battle of Zama
36 Carthaginians seek peace; defeat of Syphax's son
37 Carthaginians accept Scipio's terms; Hannibal in Carthaginian assembly
38-39 Miscellaneous events in Rome
40-43 Romans accept Carthaginian plea for peace
44 Hannibal laughs as Carthaginians weep over money they must spend
45 Scipio's triumph
Cn. Servilius Caepio, consul in 203
Tib. Claudius Nero, consul in 202
Cn. Cornelius Lentulus, consul in 201
Q. Terentius Culleo
Things to look out for:
Note that these topics are on the whole book. Some may be relevant to the set portions.
About Livy:
Statement(s) of purpose
Structure of narrative
Remarks about sources of information
Scipio's specious negotiations: (BB contributes: Why Scipio acts with such reprehensible underhand cunning (?unbecoming in a Roman?) in his diplomatic negotiations. [I suggest it is payback time for previous Carthaginian deceits, "typical" of foreigners in Roman eyes.])
Hannibal's recall, and reaction
Sophonisba
Battle of Zama
Senate's reply to Philip's envoys
Hannibal's prophecy
In general:
Battle descriptions, including generals' speeches before battle
Reactions at Rome to people and events
Debates at Rome
Omens and how the Romans dealt with them
The actions of the Romans' allies (Latin, Campanians, Sicilians, others)
