Uncanny Hannibal: Hannibal as a Roman-like Figure During the Second Punic War

By examining evidence from Livy’s accounts of the Battles the River Trebia and Lake Trasimene during the Second Punic War, this thesis argues that Hannibal becomes an uncomfortably Roman-like figure in Livy’s ab Urbe Condita. This study examines Livy’s decision to tell the Battle of the River Trebia through Hannibal’s perspective, as well as examines Livy’s word choice describing the Roman army during the Battle of Lake Trasimene. I argue that Livy sees Hannibal as someone who encroaches on Roman exceptionalism and poses a challenge to Roman legitimacy to rule its Mediterranean empire.