Silius Italicus: Punica, Book 17

Book 17 of Silius Italicus' Punica serves as the powerful conclusion of the epic, detailing the final stages of the Second Punic War, culminating in the Battle of Zama, where Roman dominance is secured. The narrative intertwines divine intervention with human conflict. Silius narrates Carthage's submission to Rome and Rome's victory, bringing the Second Punic War to a close and solidifying the epic's significance within the literary tradition. At the same time, the narrative reflects concerns of Flavian Rome, offering a nuanced interpretation of the political and cultural issues of the poet's own era. Through elevated language, intricate metre, and vivid imagery, Silius amplifies the grandeur of the final battle, highlighting themes of divine influence, heroic struggle, and political power. By revisiting earlier narrative motifs, Book 17 masterfully unifies the epic's central themes, offering a resolution that is both conclusive and thought-provoking. This volume presents a new edition and translation into English of Book 17, along with an introduction and line-by-line commentary shedding light on the poet's dialogue with the epic tradition and the unique methods employed to bring the poem's narrative to a resonant close. Angeliki Nektaria Roumpou's General Introduction explores the poem's literary and historical context, offering an analysis and interpretation of the book's central themes. The commentary explores Silius' framing of the epic, and illuminates key historiographical, textual, linguistic, and literary issues embedded in the narrative, providing essential insights into Silius Italicus' artistry and the enduring legacy of his Punica.