The representation of the regal period in Livy

Fox, M. (2014) The representation of the regal period in Livy. In: Mineo, B. (ed.) A Companion to Livy. John Wiley & Sons: Hoboken, NJ, pp. 286-297. ISBN 9781118301289 (doi: 10.1002/9781118339015.ch22)

Abstract

Livy uses the early kings to establish his credentials as a historian and narrator, and the chapter begins with a detailed discussion of the start of the monarchy. It discusses the balance between economy of scale and verisimilitude, and looks at Livy's techniques for rooting historical analysis in small details. A section on aetiology shows how prevalent that method is for dealing with the regal period, and analyses aetiology in the episode of the Horatii and Curiatii. Aetiology concerns not just to monuments and institutions, but also to ways of thinking, and the chapter discusses how the seeds of later political concepts appear in the regal period, as well as the Augustan resonance of monarchy. The final section deals with the political implications of book 1, and ends with reflections on the rape of Lucretia, and on Livy's view of the political role of individuals.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Fox, Professor Matthew
• Authors: Fox, M.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Classics
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• ISBN: 9781118301289