Removing the Gods: A Study of Livy and the Spoils of War

Abstract

This thesis examines Livy’s opinion of Roman appropriation of spoils of war. Livy did not portray all Roman appropriations of spoils from defeated enemies in the same way, particularly when the spoils included foreign religious art such as cult statues. Livy’s description of Camillus’ spoils from Veii in 396 BC portrayed the import of the cult statue of Juno Regina in a positive way. By contrast Livy criticised Marcellus for not distinguishing between sacred and secular buildings when taking spoils from Syracuse in 212 BC. This thesis investigates whether cultural beliefs influenced Livy’s opinion by analysing and comparing three case studies: Camillus’ spoils from Veii taken in 396 BC, the sack of Volsinii of 264 BC and the annexation of Syracuse by Marcellus in 212 BC. Despite the lacuna in Livy’s text about the capture of Volsinii of 264 BC inferences can be drawn from archaeological evidence. Livy displayed knowledge about the Roman concept of Just War which according to Cicero justified the taking of spoils from a defeated enemy. Nevertheless Livy’s interpretations from the case studies examined differed from the opinions expressed by other ancient authors. In conclusion, Livy’s narrative provides a window into the historian’s personal beliefs.