Bryn Mawr College

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Hannibal’s Ethnicity: Reexamining Negative Carthaginian Stereotypes in Ab Urbe Condita
(2015) Grossweiner, Allyssa; Scott, Russell T.
This thesis examines the ways in which Hannibal in Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita may be simultaneously read as both strongly Carthaginian and as an individual acting independently of ethnically determined norms. This examination gives further implications for the reading of Carthaginians in Livy as more negatively portrayed as a result of Hannibal’s influence. Hannibal is more perfidious and cruel than typical images of Carthaginians in both preceding literature and in Livy, but also his extreme devotion to his oath against Rome demonstrates that Hannibal is able to deviate from Carthaginian stereotypes. This implies that Hannibal’s excessive Carthaginian behaviors may be read as both ethnic and autonomous. Corresponding examinations of Scipio’s and Pleminius’ departure from normal Roman behavior demonstrate that when Romans deviate from expected Roman behavior, their subordinates deviate as well. This reading is used to further model Hannibal’s relationship with Carthaginians, indicating that Hannibal has made the Carthaginians somewhat Hannibalic, passing on his negative image to them.