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Livy's Death Notices

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 September 2009

Arthur J. Pomeroy
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Abstract

quotiens magni alicuius <viri> mors ab historicis narrata est, totiens fere consummatio totius vitae et quasi funebris laudatio redditur. hoc, semel aut iterum a Thucydide factum, item in paucissimis personis usurpatum a Sallustio, T. Livius benignus omnibus magnis viris praestitit; sequentes historici multo id effusius fecerunt.

Type
Research Article
Information
Greece & Rome , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , October 1988 , pp. 172 - 183
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1988

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References

Notes

1. Both meanings are possible for effusius: OLD s.v. effusus, quoting Nep. Milt. 6.2: 'Romani honores quondam fuerunt rari… nunc autem effusi (“widespread”); and Quint. Inst. 2.2.6: ‘in laudandis dictionibus nee malignus nee effusus (“extravagant”)’. An increase in the number who qualified would fit well with Seneca's progression from the couple of examples in Thucydides (Themistocles and Pericles?) and with the more generally eulogistic tone of Roman imperial historians (for which, see Velleius Paterculus and Tacitus, Hist. 1.1); a comment on the manner would be in keeping with Seneca's judgement on Livy's generosity, now turning into unbecoming eulogy.

2. In fact laudatio is already used by Cicero as the Roman equivalent of γκώμιον in de Or. 2.45–46, where reference is made both to the Greek requirements of the genre and Roman funerary custom. By qualifying his use of the description ‘funerary oration’ with quasi, Seneca is indicating that he does not wish to draw too close a connection between funerary speeches and Livy's practice – especially given the low repute of the former among historians at Rome (Cic. Brut. 62; Liv. 8.40.4–5; Plin. NH 35.8; Plut. Num. 1.1; Frier, B., Libri Annales Pontificum Maximorum: the Origins of the Annalistic Tradition [Rome, 1979], pp. 121–7.)Google Scholar

3. Cf. the technique of Polybius who proclaims that he will make due remark ( ρμζων γγος) at the death of a significant actor: 16.9 (Theophiliscus), 18.41 (Masinissa), etc.

4. I am here using the terminology of Bruns, I., Die Persönlichkeit in der Geschichtsschreibung der Alten (Berlin, 1898)Google Scholar, who has a useful, but brief discussion of Livy's death notices on pages 53–61.

5. Vollmer, F., Neue Jahrbücher fur Philologie und Pädagogik, Suppl. 19 (1893), 321–27Google Scholar.

6. Syme, R., AJPh 79 (1958), 18–31 counts 12 entries for 20 notablesGoogle Scholar.

7. There are useful discussions of the two passages in Bruns, , op. cit., pp. 58–61Google Scholar, and Tränkle, H., Livius und Polybios (Basel/Stuttgart, 1977), pp. 113–15Google Scholar.

8. Cf. Liebeschuetz, W., JRS 57 (1967), 46–7Google Scholar.

9. E.g. Tullus Hostilius, 1.31.8; Ancus Marcius, 1.35.1.

10. Livy fr. 20 Jal = Sen., Nat. Quaest., 5.18.4. See Hine, H.M., LCM 3 (1971), 83–7Google Scholar for the text – it is most likely that Livy thus described Marius, rather than Julius Caesar (as an alternative text reading would suggest), because of the similar judgement on Marius given in Per. 80.

11. The only significant use of a funeral to end a book seems to be in Book 142 – indeed the closure of Livy's work with the death of Drusus and his laudation by Augustus may highlight the change from Republic to Principate, from emphasis on the state as a whole to the cult of the individual.

12. Cf. Valerius Maximus 5.3.2b (de ingratis).

13. Zecchini, G., Athenaeum 50 (1980), 39–56Google Scholar.

14. Fr. 32 [Jal] = Hieron. ad Pammachium prol. lib. II in Hoseam, 5.6–7: ‘cuius gloriae neque profuit quisquam laudando nee vituperando nocuit, cum utrumque summis praediti fecerint ingeniis.’

15. The obituary for Cicero is discussed in some detail by Leeman, A. D., Orationis Ratio (Amsterdam, 1963), i. 189–90Google Scholar, and Lammachia, R., Stud. Urb. 49. 1 (1975), 421–35Google Scholar.

16. Suas. 6.24: ‘atque ego ne miserandi quidem exitus eum fuisse iudicarem, nisi ipse tam miseram mortem putasset’.