Early Roman HistoriansEarly Roman Historians

The Roman TraditionThe Roman Tradition

The nature of Roman Historical The nature of Roman Historical traditiontradition

Characterized by Greek influences – Characterized by Greek influences – Historians looked to Greek Historical Historians looked to Greek Historical tradition for modelstradition for models

Native Roman sense of history was based Native Roman sense of history was based on on gensgens and and familia familia – the basic Roman – the basic Roman social unitssocial units

GensGens:: kinspeople, clan – descended from a kinspeople, clan – descended from a common prehistoric ancestor, tightly bound common prehistoric ancestor, tightly bound by common rituals, had their own burial by common rituals, had their own burial rites and cemetariesrites and cemetaries

familiafamilia - family – shared ancestral cult; - family – shared ancestral cult; family ancestors added to prestige of family ancestors added to prestige of present generationpresent generation

Traditions to preserve historyTraditions to preserve historyof of familiafamilia

Family archives, recording accomplishments of famous Family archives, recording accomplishments of famous ancestors (limited to houses of ruling elite)ancestors (limited to houses of ruling elite)

Senatorial families had Senatorial families had ius imaginum , ius imaginum , entitled them to entitled them to display in the center of their houses, in the display in the center of their houses, in the atriumatrium or or tablinium,tablinium, the the imagines imagines of their famous ancestors cast of their famous ancestors cast from wax masks at the death of a male family memberfrom wax masks at the death of a male family member

These were paraded by dressed up living members of These were paraded by dressed up living members of familiafamilia during funerals - the more famous imagines during funerals - the more famous imagines they could display, the more prominent was the familythey could display, the more prominent was the family

funerary inscriptions listed honours received, offices funerary inscriptions listed honours received, offices held – consulship, military campaigns, triumphs held – consulship, military campaigns, triumphs received, etc.received, etc.

laudautiones funebreslaudautiones funebres – funeral speeches praising all – funeral speeches praising all accomplishments of deceased – copies often preservedaccomplishments of deceased – copies often preserved

these biographical family records became sources for these biographical family records became sources for later writers/historians later writers/historians

Oral traditionsOral traditions

““And would there were still extant And would there were still extant those songs, of which Cato in his those songs, of which Cato in his Origines has recorded, that long Origines has recorded, that long before his time the several guests at before his time the several guests at banquets used to sing in turn the banquets used to sing in turn the praise of famous men. (Cicero, praise of famous men. (Cicero, Brutus Brutus 75)75)

A Roman funerary processionA Roman funerary procession

Polybius on Roman Funerals (Polybius on Roman Funerals (HistoryHistory, , 6. 53-54)6. 53-54)

Noble Roman with Noble Roman with imaginesimagines of his ancestorsof his ancestors

A Roman A Roman imagoimago (death mask) (death mask) (Caesar?)(Caesar?)

Sallust on the effects of the Sallust on the effects of the imaginesimagines

““I have often heard that Quintus Maximus, I have often heard that Quintus Maximus, Publius Scipio, and other eminent men of Publius Scipio, and other eminent men of our country, were in the habit of declaring our country, were in the habit of declaring that their hearts were set mightily aflame that their hearts were set mightily aflame from the pursuit of virtue whenever they from the pursuit of virtue whenever they gazed upon the masks of their ancestors. Of gazed upon the masks of their ancestors. Of course they did not mean to imply that the course they did not mean to imply that the wax or the effigy had any such power over wax or the effigy had any such power over them, but rather that it is the memory of them, but rather that it is the memory of great deeds that kindles in the breasts of great deeds that kindles in the breasts of noble men this flame that cannot be quelled noble men this flame that cannot be quelled until they by their own prowess have until they by their own prowess have equally the fame and glory of their equally the fame and glory of their forefathers.” (Sallust, Jugurtha 4,5)forefathers.” (Sallust, Jugurtha 4,5)

Cicero on the Annales MaximiCicero on the Annales Maximi ““For history began as a mere compilation of For history began as a mere compilation of

annals, on which account, in order to preserve annals, on which account, in order to preserve the general traditions, from the earliest period the general traditions, from the earliest period of the city down to the pontificate of Publius of the city down to the pontificate of Publius Mucius, each High Priest used to commit to Mucius, each High Priest used to commit to writing all the events of his year of office, and writing all the events of his year of office, and record them on a white tabled (record them on a white tabled (albumalbum), and ), and post up the tablet (tpost up the tablet (tabulaabula) at his house, that ) at his house, that all men might have the liberty to acquaint all men might have the liberty to acquaint themselves herewith, and to this day those themselves herewith, and to this day those records are known as the pontifical annals records are known as the pontifical annals ((annales maximiannales maximi) (Cicero ) (Cicero De oratDe orat. 2.52). 2.52)

Named after the Named after the pontifex maximus pontifex maximus (highest (highest priest)priest)

Cato on the Cato on the annalesannales

It is disagreeable to write what It is disagreeable to write what stands on the tablet at the house of stands on the tablet at the house of the Pontifex Maximus – how often the Pontifex Maximus – how often grain was costly, how often darkness grain was costly, how often darkness or something else blocked the light or something else blocked the light of the moonor the sun. (Cato, of the moonor the sun. (Cato, OriginesOrigines Frag. 77 Frag. 77

History and FamilyHistory and Family

For the individual Roman the past For the individual Roman the past and the present were joined by and the present were joined by memories and records of memories and records of gensgens and and familiafamilia. .

function: Records inspired function: Records inspired pietaspietas (respect and affection) central (respect and affection) central Roman values, offered historical Roman values, offered historical exempla exempla (examples) as standards for (examples) as standards for current conductcurrent conduct

Tracking time in early RomeTracking time in early Rome

tradition talks about a calendar developed in tradition talks about a calendar developed in the regal period - used to carry out the regal period - used to carry out sacrifices, religious rituals, assemblies at the sacrifices, religious rituals, assemblies at the right timeright time

no indication of an early Roman system to no indication of an early Roman system to keep track of yearskeep track of years

we know of nails pounded into we know of nails pounded into cellacella walls of walls of the Capitoline temple to count years, and a the Capitoline temple to count years, and a method to count years according to the year method to count years according to the year of the of the rex sacrorumrex sacrorum (the chief priestly office (the chief priestly office in early Rome)in early Rome)

Sources and their problemsSources and their problems

Earliest period - primarily oral tradition- traditional stories transmitted Earliest period - primarily oral tradition- traditional stories transmitted orally from generation to generationorally from generation to generation

family records (heavily biased to flatter and exaggerated to extol family records (heavily biased to flatter and exaggerated to extol prominence of individual families)prominence of individual families)

Written Sources Prior to 200 BCE:Written Sources Prior to 200 BCE: XII Tables (earliest lawcode)XII Tables (earliest lawcode) Written family records Written family records fasti,fasti, compiled by compiled by pontifex maximus – pontifex maximus – chief priest – included the chief priest – included the dies fastidies fasti

(days on which sacred law permitted business and court transactions) and (days on which sacred law permitted business and court transactions) and the the dies nefastidies nefasti (days on which they were prohibited) (days on which they were prohibited)

Libri LinteiLibri Lintei, linen tablets - priestly lists, religious events, natural , linen tablets - priestly lists, religious events, natural phenomenaphenomena

Tabulae PontificumTabulae Pontificum, , Later – at the end of a year all were added to an inscription set up atLater – at the end of a year all were added to an inscription set up at the the

regiaregia in the forum – and called in the forum – and called annales maximi annales maximi Gradually included names of consuls, priests, military triumphs, all sort of Gradually included names of consuls, priests, military triumphs, all sort of

important events requiring religious rituals, famines, eclipses (used later to important events requiring religious rituals, famines, eclipses (used later to fix dates)fix dates)

Fasti,Fasti, Roman Calendar Roman Calendar

The first Roman HistoriansThe first Roman Historians

Roman Historiography emerged around Roman Historiography emerged around 200 BCE200 BCE

Gnaeus Naevius ( poet from Campania) Gnaeus Naevius ( poet from Campania) – – Bellum Poenicium Bellum Poenicium on first Punic war - on first Punic war - more of a national epicmore of a national epic

Quintus Fabius Pictor (ca. 254 BCE – Quintus Fabius Pictor (ca. 254 BCE – after 200 BCE) a senator – 2after 200 BCE) a senator – 2ndnd Punic War Punic War

Lucius Cincius Alimentus – a senator – Lucius Cincius Alimentus – a senator – 22ndnd Punic War Punic War

Gnaeus Naevius 270-201 BCEGnaeus Naevius 270-201 BCE Wrote in Latin verseWrote in Latin verse Roman citizen from Campania, S. ItalyRoman citizen from Campania, S. Italy First writer who was free and a citizen who wrote First writer who was free and a citizen who wrote

in Latinin Latin Wrote down orally transmitted Roman legends to Wrote down orally transmitted Roman legends to

contemporary events in epic form. contemporary events in epic form. Bellum PoenicumBellum Poenicum - ( the Punic War) epic poem - ( the Punic War) epic poem

with Homeric elements, includes gods on with Homeric elements, includes gods on battlefield although he himself fought in the war battlefield although he himself fought in the war

Poem also includes the Roman foundation myth – Poem also includes the Roman foundation myth – indicates he knew Homer and Hellenistic poetryindicates he knew Homer and Hellenistic poetry

Wrote also tragedies/comedies – most likely Wrote also tragedies/comedies – most likely translations or adaptations of Greek playstranslations or adaptations of Greek plays

Gnaeus NaeviusGnaeus Naevius

First to write tragedies on Roman First to write tragedies on Roman themes: Romulus; and a tragedy on themes: Romulus; and a tragedy on the defeat of the Gauls by Claudius the defeat of the Gauls by Claudius Marcellus 222 BCE – likely for his Marcellus 222 BCE – likely for his funeral gamesfuneral games

Use of history for glorification of Use of history for glorification of Roman aristocratsRoman aristocrats

Quintus EnniusQuintus Ennius239 – 169 BCE239 – 169 BCE

Also wrote in Latin verseAlso wrote in Latin verse From Rudiae, s. ItalyFrom Rudiae, s. Italy Spoke Greek, Latin, OscanSpoke Greek, Latin, Oscan 204 BCE brought to Rome by Cato; later 204 BCE brought to Rome by Cato; later

received Roman citizenshipreceived Roman citizenship Joined Scipio’s circle of Hellenized RomansJoined Scipio’s circle of Hellenized Romans Wrote tragedy and epicWrote tragedy and epic Epic Poem: Epic Poem: AnnalesAnnales (in Latin) – earned him (in Latin) – earned him

title of “Father of Latin Literature”title of “Father of Latin Literature”

Quintus EnniusQuintus Ennius

AnnalesAnnales: an epic poem - a history in : an epic poem - a history in 18 books from Aeneas to 170s BCE 18 books from Aeneas to 170s BCE (600 lines survived)(600 lines survived)

Was much studied by later authorsWas much studied by later authorsFocus on military campaigns, Focus on military campaigns, virtus virtus of of

ancestors and aristocrats and ancestors and aristocrats and aristocratic ideology;aristocratic ideology;

Epic elements reflecting Greek Epic elements reflecting Greek influencesinfluences

Q. Fabius PictorQ. Fabius Pictorb. c. 250 BCEb. c. 250 BCE

First historian to write in First historian to write in proseprosebut in Greek, the language of the educated but in Greek, the language of the educated eliteelite

Roman senator; was ambassador to Delphi to Roman senator; was ambassador to Delphi to consult oracle after Roman defeat at Cannae consult oracle after Roman defeat at Cannae (216 BCE)(216 BCE)

Wrote in Greek – language of the educated Wrote in Greek – language of the educated Romans – Latin vocabulary for prose was Romans – Latin vocabulary for prose was limitedlimited

Wrote a history from beginnings of Rome to Wrote a history from beginnings of Rome to Second Punic War: Second Punic War: Annales GraecAnnales Graeci i

Fabius PictorFabius Pictor Was the prose narrative in a primarily oral Was the prose narrative in a primarily oral

cultureculture His sources: family archives, annals, His sources: family archives, annals,

speeches, earlier Greek historians; speeches, earlier Greek historians; traditional stories; personal accounts he traditional stories; personal accounts he heard from children and grandchildren of heard from children and grandchildren of participants in the Punic Wars.participants in the Punic Wars.

Replaced Naevius’ history; Replaced Naevius’ history; Wrote a serious history that earned respect Wrote a serious history that earned respect

of the Greek historiansof the Greek historians Important: first one to bring Hellenistic Important: first one to bring Hellenistic

Greek historical methods to Roman Greek historical methods to Roman historical writingshistorical writings

Fabius PictorFabius Pictor

Criticized by Polybius for being pro-Roman and Criticized by Polybius for being pro-Roman and anti Hannibal anti Hannibal

Yet was used heavily by Polybius as sourceYet was used heavily by Polybius as source Polybius points to his use of moralizing Polybius points to his use of moralizing

anecdotes, praise for Roman greatness and anecdotes, praise for Roman greatness and superiority.superiority.

Fabius Pictor was the first to see that competition Fabius Pictor was the first to see that competition for social/political prominence among Roman elite for social/political prominence among Roman elite could be transferred to historical writingscould be transferred to historical writings

His introduction of history in prose and moralistic His introduction of history in prose and moralistic nationalism in historical writings shaped the nationalism in historical writings shaped the character of Roman historiography for centuriescharacter of Roman historiography for centuries

Lucius Cincius AlimentusLucius Cincius Alimentus(praetor in 210 BCE)(praetor in 210 BCE)

Also participated in the Second Punic Also participated in the Second Punic War; became prisoner of war at War; became prisoner of war at battle of Cannae in 216 BCEbattle of Cannae in 216 BCE

Wrote historical narrative in GreekWrote historical narrative in GreekWas praised by PolybiusWas praised by Polybius

Marcus Porcius Cato ( 234 – 149 BCE)Marcus Porcius Cato ( 234 – 149 BCE)Cato the ElderCato the Elder

Had a prestigious public career for a Had a prestigious public career for a novus homonovus homo (new man – first in his family to pursue public career (new man – first in his family to pursue public career and even become consul) reached the consulship in and even become consul) reached the consulship in 195 BCE and become censor in 184 BCE 195 BCE and become censor in 184 BCE

Famous orator – Cicero knew 150 speeches by Cato; Famous orator – Cicero knew 150 speeches by Cato; First to write in Latin prose: First to write in Latin prose: OriginesOrigines - traces Rome’s - traces Rome’s

history in 7 books from its beginnings to ca. 150 BCEhistory in 7 books from its beginnings to ca. 150 BCE Only fragments remain; annalistic historyOnly fragments remain; annalistic history Very conservative Roman; Opposed Hellenization of Very conservative Roman; Opposed Hellenization of

Roman culture; promoted Roman culture; promoted mos maiorummos maiorum - (customs - (customs of the ancestors) i.e. traditional Roman values – of the ancestors) i.e. traditional Roman values – especially frugality, hard work, discipline, especially frugality, hard work, discipline, pietas pietas (respect and affection)(respect and affection)

Cato the ElderCato the Elder

Purpose of writing history: pragmatic Purpose of writing history: pragmatic as a tool to instruct future Roman as a tool to instruct future Roman leaders; to learn moral standards of leaders; to learn moral standards of ancestors – to fight the corruption ancestors – to fight the corruption that came with all things Greek that came with all things Greek (Hellenization)(Hellenization)

Other Works: Other Works: De agriculturaDe agricultura - - farming handbook farming handbook

Greek and Roman Greek and Roman historiography meet historiography meet

Capture of Magna Graeca 3Capture of Magna Graeca 3rdrd century century BCBC

Direct contact with Greeks Direct contact with Greeks

Conquest of Greece properConquest of Greece proper

Influx of educated Greeks into Rome Influx of educated Greeks into Rome (as slaves/hostages or scholars(as slaves/hostages or scholars