Cornelius Nepos, 'Life of Hannibal': Latin Text, Notes, Maps, Illustrations and Vocabulary

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This book is part of our Classics Series in partnership with Dickinson College Commentaries. Mulligan's commentary is also available online at http://dcc.dickinson.edu/nepos-hannibal/preface |
Over the years, Cornelius Nepos has given many students of Latin their first opportunity to read through an entire (shorter) work with ease. But until now there has been no resource as intellectually satisfying and pedagogically effective as Bret Mulligan provides for the Life of Hannibal...Mulligan's volume makes me excited about the next time I will get to use it...and about how DCC and Open Book are making ancient texts more accessible than ever before, both materially and conceptually.
— Dr James Ker, The Classical Outlook 91:2 (2016), p.74
Trebia. Trasimene. Cannae. With three stunning victories, Hannibal humbled Rome and nearly shattered its empire. Even today Hannibal's brilliant, if ultimately unsuccessful, campaign against Rome during the Second Punic War (218-202 BC) make him one of history's most celebrated military leaders. This biography by Cornelius Nepos (c. 100-27 BC) sketches Hannibal's life from the time he began traveling with his father's army as a young boy, through his sixteen-year invasion of Italy and his tumultuous political career in Carthage, to his perilous exile and eventual suicide in the East.
As Rome completed its bloody transition from dysfunctional republic to stable monarchy, Nepos labored to complete an innovative and influential collection of concise biographies. Putting aside the detailed, chronological accounts of military campaigns and political machinations that characterized most writing about history, Nepos surveyed Roman and Greek history for distinguished men who excelled in a range of prestigious occupations. In the exploits and achievements of these illustrious men, Nepos hoped that his readers would find models for the honorable conduct of their own lives. Although most of Nepos' works have been lost, we are fortunate to have his biography of Hannibal. Nepos offers a surprisingly balanced portrayal of a man that most Roman authors vilified as the most monstrous foe that Rome had ever faced.
As Rome completed its bloody transition from dysfunctional republic to stable monarchy, Nepos labored to complete an innovative and influential collection of concise biographies. Putting aside the detailed, chronological accounts of military campaigns and political machinations that characterized most writing about history, Nepos surveyed Roman and Greek history for distinguished men who excelled in a range of prestigious occupations. In the exploits and achievements of these illustrious men, Nepos hoped that his readers would find models for the honorable conduct of their own lives. Although most of Nepos' works have been lost, we are fortunate to have his biography of Hannibal. Nepos offers a surprisingly balanced portrayal of a man that most Roman authors vilified as the most monstrous foe that Rome had ever faced.
Nepos' straightforward style and his preference for common vocabulary make Life of Hannibal accessible for those who are just beginning to read continuous Latin prose, while the historical interest of the subject make it compelling for readers of every ability.
This book contains embedded audio files of the original text read aloud by Christopher Francese.
Cornelius Nepos, ‘Life of Hannibal’: Latin Text, Notes, Maps, Illustrations and Vocabulary
Bret Mulligan | October 2015
Dickinson College commentaries, vol. 1 | ISSN: 2059-5743 (Print); 2059-5751 (Online)
174 | 13 colour illustrations | 6.14" x 9.21" (234 x 156 mm)
ISBN Paperback: 9781783741328
ISBN Hardback: 9781783741335
ISBN Digital (PDF): 9781783741342
ISBN Digital ebook (epub): 9781783741359
ISBN Digital ebook (mobi): 9781783741366
ISBN Digital (XML): 9781783746392
DOI: 10.11647/OBP.0068
BIC subject codes: DB (Classical texts), HBLA1 (Classical civilisation), 4KL (A-Levels Aid), CFP (Translation and interpretation); BISAC: LIT004190 (LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical), LIT025030 (LITERARY CRITICISM / Subjects & Themes / Politics); OCLC Number: 993988513.
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Preface
Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations
1. Life of Nepos
Historical Context
Works of Nepos
The Lives of Famous Men
The Lives of Foreign Commanders
Other Works
Reputation in Antiquity and Beyond
Friendships and Social Context
The Caecilii Metelli
Atticus and Cicero
Catullus
2. Reading Nepos
Four Favorite Constructions
Three Key Words
Why Write Biography?
Nepos and Non‒Roman Cultures
The Biographical Tradition in Greece and Rome
Nepos’ Audience
3. Historical Context and Hannibal
Early History of Carthage
First Punic War (264‒241 BC
Between the Wars
Second Punic War (218‒201 BC)
Aftermath
Hannibal
Evaluating Hannibal
Bibliography
Chronology of Hannibal’s Life
Text of Nepos’ Life of Hannibal
Notes
Full Vocabulary for Nepos’ Life of Hannibal and Prologus to the Lives of Outstanding Commanders
Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations
1. Life of Nepos
Historical Context
Works of Nepos
The Lives of Famous Men
The Lives of Foreign Commanders
Other Works
Reputation in Antiquity and Beyond
Friendships and Social Context
The Caecilii Metelli
Atticus and Cicero
Catullus
2. Reading Nepos
Four Favorite Constructions
Three Key Words
Why Write Biography?
Nepos and Non‒Roman Cultures
The Biographical Tradition in Greece and Rome
Nepos’ Audience
3. Historical Context and Hannibal
Early History of Carthage
First Punic War (264‒241 BC
Between the Wars
Second Punic War (218‒201 BC)
Aftermath
Hannibal
Evaluating Hannibal
Bibliography
Chronology of Hannibal’s Life
Text of Nepos’ Life of Hannibal
Notes
Full Vocabulary for Nepos’ Life of Hannibal and Prologus to the Lives of Outstanding Commanders
© 2015 Bret Mulligan

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0). This license allows you to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work; to adapt the work and to make commercial use of the work providing attribution is made to the author (but not in any way that suggests that he endorses you or your use of the work). Attribution should include the following information:
Bret Mulligan, Cornelius Nepos, ‘Life of Hannibal’. Latin Text, Notes, Maps, and Vocabulary. Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers, 2015, https://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0068
Recordings © 2015 Christopher Francese
The recordings embedded in this volume are licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license (CC BY-SA 4.0). This means that if you remix, transform, or build upon the recordings, you must distribute your contributions under the same license.
Please see the list of illustrations below for attribution relating to individual images. For further information about the rights of the Wikimedia Commons images, please refer to the Wikimedia website:
1. Map of Northern Italy. Adapted with permission from images © Ancient World Mapping Center: http://awmc.unc.edu/wordpress/alacarte
2. Carthaginian and Roman territory on the eve of the First Punic War. Adapted with permission from images © Ancient World Mapping Center: http://awmc.unc.edu/wordpress/alacarte
3. Dido Building, Carthage (1815) by J. M. W. Turner. Oil on canvas. 155.5x232 cm. Now at the National Gallery, London. Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Turner_-_Dido.jpg
4. Hannibal’s route into Italy. Adapted with permission from images © Ancient World Mapping Center: http://awmc.unc.edu/wordpress/alacarte
5. Snow Storm. Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps (1810‒1812) by J. M. W. Turner. Oil on canvas. 144.7x236 cm. Now at Tate Britain, London. Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_Mallord_William_Turner_-_Snow_Storm,_Hannibal_and_his_Army_Crossing_the_Alps_-_WGA23167.jpg
6. Hannibal’s campaign in Italy. Adapted with permission from images © Ancient World Mapping Center: http://awmc.unc.edu/wordpress/alacarte
7. The Capture of Carthage (1539). Engraving by George Pencz. Now at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Georg_Pencz_-_The_Capture_of_Carthage.jpg
8. Roman bust of Hannibal. Statue in marble. Capua, Italy. Now at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples. Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mommsen_p265.jpg
9. Hannibal’s travels in the East (196‒183 BC). Adapted with permission from images © Ancient World Mapping Center: http://awmc.unc.edu/wordpress/alacarte
10. Hannibal’s Oath of Hatred Against Rome. Drawing by Joelle Cicak. Used with permission.
11. Hannibal’s Ruse of the Amphorae. Drawing by Joelle Cicak. Used with permission.
12. Snakes on a Boat. Drawing by Joelle Cicak. Used with permission.
13. Hannibal Surrounded. Drawing by Joelle Cicak. Used with permission.
1. Map of Northern Italy. Adapted with permission from images © Ancient World Mapping Center: http://awmc.unc.edu/wordpress/alacarte
2. Carthaginian and Roman territory on the eve of the First Punic War. Adapted with permission from images © Ancient World Mapping Center: http://awmc.unc.edu/wordpress/alacarte
3. Dido Building, Carthage (1815) by J. M. W. Turner. Oil on canvas. 155.5x232 cm. Now at the National Gallery, London. Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Turner_-_Dido.jpg
4. Hannibal’s route into Italy. Adapted with permission from images © Ancient World Mapping Center: http://awmc.unc.edu/wordpress/alacarte
5. Snow Storm. Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps (1810‒1812) by J. M. W. Turner. Oil on canvas. 144.7x236 cm. Now at Tate Britain, London. Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_Mallord_William_Turner_-_Snow_Storm,_Hannibal_and_his_Army_Crossing_the_Alps_-_WGA23167.jpg
6. Hannibal’s campaign in Italy. Adapted with permission from images © Ancient World Mapping Center: http://awmc.unc.edu/wordpress/alacarte
7. The Capture of Carthage (1539). Engraving by George Pencz. Now at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Georg_Pencz_-_The_Capture_of_Carthage.jpg
8. Roman bust of Hannibal. Statue in marble. Capua, Italy. Now at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples. Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mommsen_p265.jpg
9. Hannibal’s travels in the East (196‒183 BC). Adapted with permission from images © Ancient World Mapping Center: http://awmc.unc.edu/wordpress/alacarte
10. Hannibal’s Oath of Hatred Against Rome. Drawing by Joelle Cicak. Used with permission.
11. Hannibal’s Ruse of the Amphorae. Drawing by Joelle Cicak. Used with permission.
12. Snakes on a Boat. Drawing by Joelle Cicak. Used with permission.
13. Hannibal Surrounded. Drawing by Joelle Cicak. Used with permission.
Cover image: Sébastien Slodtz, Hannibal Barca Counting the Rings of the Roman Knights Killed at the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC (1704). http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hannibal_Slodtz_Louvre_MR2093.jpg