Peter Morton | William Penn Charter School (original) (raw)

Papers by Peter Morton

Research paper thumbnail of DIODORUS SICULUS THE HISTORIAN - (J.P.) Stronk Semiramis’ Legacy. The History of Persia According to Diodorus of Sicily. Pp. xviii + 606, ills, maps. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2017. Cased, £120. ISBN: 978-1-4744-1425-8. - (C.E.) Muntz Diodorus Siculus and the World of the Late Roman ...

The Classical Review, 2017

508–9), the brothers leave Attica untouched apart from seizing Aithra and rescuing Helen. Lycophr... more 508–9), the brothers leave Attica untouched apart from seizing Aithra and rescuing Helen. Lycophron’s poem, described by McN. and S. as a ‘bold generic experiment’ (p. 2), is the ongoing shaping of the Classical literary and mythological traditions, as a whole as well as the religious and social life of the ancient world. The book is a very well-written contribution to our understanding of Lycophron and Greek poetry and would serve as a model for other difficult authors or genres.

Research paper thumbnail of Diodorus Siculus’ ‘Slave War’ Narratives: Writing Social Commentary in the Bibliothēkē

The Classical Quarterly, 2018

Diodorus Siculus has not enjoyed a positive reputation among historians of antiquity. Since the n... more Diodorus Siculus has not enjoyed a positive reputation among historians of antiquity. Since the nineteenth century his Bibliothēkē has been dismissed as a derivative work produced by an incompetent compiler, useful often only in so far as one can mine his text for lost and, evidently, far superior works of history. Diodorus’ own input into the Bibliothēkē has been dismissed as the clumsy intervention of ‘a small man with pretensions’. In one of the sharpest expressions of the traditional view, Diodorus is not a historian but ‘a mere epitomizer and an incompetent one at that’. In recent years voices of dissent have spoken up, determined to investigate Diodorus’ own contribution to ancient historiography. Their contributions have been notable for their desire to study and understand Diodorus on his own terms or to problematize his derivative use of his sources. Sacks, in particular, has argued that Diodorus’ voice can be heard in nearly every proem, a feature that occurs regularly in ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Geography of Rebellion: Strategy and Supply in the Two ‘Sicilian Slave Wars’

Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies, 2014

The two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’ of the second century BC have rarely been studied in terms of their... more The two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’ of the second century BC have rarely been studied in terms of their strategic complexities. Previous efforts to do so have started from the assumption that each conflict was a priori the same or similar. In addition, both wars have been placed into a separate category of analysis from other wars, leading to analyses that have characterised the wars together as disorganized guerrilla campaigns or examples of ancient marronage. In this paper I argue, by contrast, that we must consider the two conflicts as separate entities, and that we must approach their study as we would any other wars. By studying the rebel strategies of each war in terms of their relationships with the geography of Sicily and the logistics of warfare I contend that the two wars were fought in contrasting manners, with the method used in the first being highly strategic, and in the second confused and ineffectual.

Research paper thumbnail of Eunus: The Cowardly King

The Classical Quarterly, 2013

In 135 b.c., unable to endure the treatment of their master Damophilus, a group of slaves, urged ... more In 135 b.c., unable to endure the treatment of their master Damophilus, a group of slaves, urged on by the wonder-worker Eunus, captured the city of Enna in Eastern Sicily in a night-time raid. The subsequent war, according to our sources the largest of its kind in antiquity, raged for three years, destroying the armies of Roman praetors, and engaging three consecutive consuls in its eventual suppression. The success of the rebels in holding out for years against a progression of Roman armies indicates the importance of the event, and the capabilities of their leaders. One expects the man capable of leading such a revolt to have been exceptional, and in this respect the ancient accounts do not disappoint: in a narrative replete with larger-than-life characters, ranging from the depraved slave-owner Damophilus (Diod. Sic. 34/5.2.10, 35–8) to the restrained Roman consul Calpurnius Piso (Val. Max. 4.3.10), one figure stands out in Diodorus…

Research paper thumbnail of Refiguring the Sicilian Slave Wars : from servile unrest to civic disquiet and social disorder

Research paper thumbnail of Rebels and slaves: reinterpreting the first Sicilian slave war

This thesis seeks to rethink the history of the First Sicilian Slave War in the second century B.... more This thesis seeks to rethink the history of the First Sicilian Slave War in the second century B.C. by reassessing the main literary source for the conflict, Diodorus Siculus, and introducing numismatic evidence for the conflict as a corrective to his testimony. Diodorus' narrative of the First Sicilian Slave War is discussed, and found to be a composite of two different narratives, each of which stresses different aspects about the First Sicilian Slave War. It is suggested that Diodorus combined the two narratives together in order to create his own, and that this knowledge allows us to read between the lines of his history and understand the history that lies behind it better. A case study of Diodorus' literary skills is presented, which discusses the ancient literary stereotypes and topoi that he used to describe the two leaders of the First Sicilian Slave War: Eunus/King Antiochus and Cleon. The conclusion reached is that Diodorus' descriptions of Eunus and Cleon, of a charlatan magician and a bandit herdsman respectively, achieved literary aims, and were not historical descriptions and cannot be used as such. As a way around the difficulties presented by Diodorus, a detailed study of the coinage of Eunus/King Antiochus is provided in order to assess how he wanted himself to be seen. This concludes that the coinage of Eunus/King Antiochus does not support the evidence of Diodorus about the First Sicilian Slave War, and that another understanding of the conflict must be considered: that it was not a slave rebellion, but a rebellion against Roman rule on Sicily.

Research paper thumbnail of G. MANGANARO,PACE E GUERRA NELLA SICILIA TARDO-ELLENISTICA E ROMANA (215 A.C.–14 D.C.): RICERCHE STORICHE E NUMISMATICHE (Nomismata 7).Bonn:Habelt Verlag,2012. Pp. 170, 41 pls.isbn9783774937710. €39.00

Journal of Roman Studies, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of (N.) McKeown The Invention of Ancient Slavery? Pp. 174. London: Duckworth, 2007. Paper, £12.99. ISBN: 978-0-7156-3185-0

The Classical Review, 2009

Slavery can be a very divisive topic, and not only among academics. In order to understand the ‘p... more Slavery can be a very divisive topic, and not only among academics. In order to understand the ‘peculiar institution’ scholars have assumed a number of political, moral and academic standpoints and methods to aid them in constructing their narratives. In his book, McK. thought-provokingly considers some of the more in·uential methods used in the study of ancient slavery in order to explain how ancient history is written, and how it ends up being, in many cases, so di¶erent. The major worth of the book is in reminding its readers, undergraduates and established scholars alike, that any view of history is unavoidably informed by the views of the person creating it. McK.’s contention that ‘when we explore [the past], we tend to μnd what we are looking for’ (p. 29) is a valuable one, especially in the context of slavery studies. With this in mind, and using his endless ability to anticipate di¶erent interpretations of evidence based on the ‘unexamined assumptions’ (p. 31) of any scholar, he engages with a variety of scholars and approaches. Chapters 1 to 6 focus on Roman slavery; the seventh alone deals with Greek slavery. The μrst chapter engages with early twentieth-century racist views of freedman integration into Roman society. As an introduction to the ideas of the book, this chapter admirably refuses to judge the scholars who maintained these views (T. Frank, ‘Race Mixture in the Roman Empire’, American Historical Review 21.4 [1916], 689–708 to name one), and McK. argues that modern interpretations about successful integration of freedmen into Roman society re·ect as much on the political era in which they were written as they do on the older racist views. This sets the tone for much of the book. In Chapter 2, McK. shows that the same evidence can be used to argue for widespread punishment and fear of slaves, or for a strong a¶ection between slaves and masters; his opinion would appear to be that either is possible, but that the non-existence of either is not plausible. The third chapter again o¶ers a challenge to how evidence is interpreted, this time questioning the assumptions on which the interpretation of Marxist scholarship is based (in this case E.M Shtaerman & M.K. Troμmova, La schiavitu nell’Italia imperiale: I–III secolo [Rome, 1975]), while Chapter 4 shows that the way in which Keith Bradley used evidence for his books was informed by his chosen emphasis for his work, and that his methodology in comparative work was similarly in·uenced. McK. extends this thesis in Chapter 5 to literary readings of slavery, arguing persuasively that the same problems of ‘unexamined assumptions’ are present even in supposedly ‘post-modern’ authors. The sixth chapter examines statistical approaches to ancient slavery. This chapter, having contained like the other chapters incisive comments about how ‘soft’ (p. 138) some of the evidence employed is, ends by conμrming that while the statistical approach can provide greater certainties in some areas, it is none the less governed by ‘unconscious starting assumptions’ (p. 140). In the μnal chapter McK. sets out to assess the scholars of Greek slave history, an area where he feels ‘exciting new opportunities’ (p. 142) may be found. He argues that Greek scholars potentially point up a new way of working on slavery, in spite of the fact that their work is a¶ected in the same way as that of the Roman scholars discussed in the rest of the book. While not o¶ering any explicitly new scholarship, the comments in the book are consistently insightful, and the clear English makes it a joy to read. It reminds readers to be aware of the preconceptions in their historical arguments.

Research paper thumbnail of Diodorus Siculus' 'Slave War' Narratives: Writing Social Commentary in the Bibliotheke

Classical Quarterly, 2018

Diodorus Siculus has not enjoyed a positive reputation among historians of antiquity. Since the n... more Diodorus Siculus has not enjoyed a positive reputation among historians of antiquity. Since the nineteenth century his Bibliothēkē has been dismissed as a derivative work produced by an incompetent compiler, useful often only in so far as one can mine his text for lost and, evidently, far superior works of history. Diodorus’ own input into the Bibliothēkē has been dismissed as the clumsy intervention of ‘a small man with pretensions’. In one of the sharpest expressions of the traditional view, Diodorus is not a historian but ‘a mere epitomizer and an incompetent one at that’. In recent years voices of dissent have spoken up, determined to investigate Diodorus’ own contribution to ancient historiography. Their contributions have been notable for their desire to study and understand Diodorus on his own terms or to problematize his derivative use of his sources. Sacks, in particular, has argued that Diodorus’ voice can be heard in nearly every proem, a feature that occurs regularly in the text, and that Diodorus’ own views structure his analysis of historical events copied from other authors.

Research paper thumbnail of Filling in the Gaps: Studying Anachronism in Diodorus Siculus' Narrative of the First Sicilian 'Slave War'

A. Meeus (ed.), Narrative in Hellenistic Historiography, Histos Supplements 8, 2018

Diodorus Siculus' narrative of the First Sicilian 'Slave War' is often considered to offer an 'ac... more Diodorus Siculus' narrative of the First Sicilian 'Slave War' is often considered to offer an 'accurate, reliable, and comprehensive' account of the war. This article aims to demonstrate that the text is not necessarily authoritative by reassessing the narrative function of an anachronistic explanatory passage that is often 'fixed' in modern accounts with a plausible, but hypothetical alternative. It is argued that we cannot 'fix' this anachronism without thereby jeopardising the text's narrative structure. In sum, the anachronism was inserted because the author did not understand the events he narrated or their immediate historical context.

Research paper thumbnail of  The Geography of Rebellion: Strategy and Supply in the two ‘Sicilian Slave Wars’

The two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’ of the second century BC have rarely been studied in terms of their... more The two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’ of the second century BC have rarely been studied in terms of their strategic complexities. Previous efforts to do so have started from the assumption that each conflict was a priori the same or similar. In addition, both wars have been placed into a separate category of analysis from other wars, leading to analyses that have characterised the wars together as disorganized guerrilla campaigns or examples of ancient marronage. In this paper I argue, in contrast, that we must consider the two conflicts as separate entities, and that we must approach their study as we would any other wars. By studying the rebel strategies of each war in terms of their relationships with the geography of Sicily and the logistics of warfare I contend that the two wars were fought in contrasting manners, with the first highly strategic, and the second confused and ineffectual.

Research paper thumbnail of Eunus: the cowardly King

Research paper thumbnail of Refiguring the Sicilian Slave Wars: from Servile Unrest to Civic Disquiet and Social Disorder

This study argues that the so-called Sicilian Slave Wars are best understood as two differing ins... more This study argues that the so-called Sicilian Slave Wars are best understood as two differing instances of civic disquiet, social disorder and provincial revolt in Sicily, rather than as slave wars. Both events are reconnected to their Sicilian context geographically, politically and socially, and shown to have arisen from those contexts. This thesis is demonstrated in seven chapters. Chapter I reassesses the principle evidence for the kingdom established by the rebels in the first war: their numismatic issues. This evidence is best understood in the context of contemporary Sicilian numismatics and emphasises the Sicilian nature of the uprising. It is argued that the insurgency was contingent on the support of certain parts of the (free) Sicilian populace. Chapter II presents a reinterpretation of Diodorus’ text from a narratological point of view. The text is shown to be highly rhetorical and constructed with a view to demonise the leaders of the first war, Eunus and Cleon, through reference to Hellenistic stereotypes of femininity, cowardliness, magic and banditry. Chapter III argues that Diodorus’ explanation of the origin of the war is anachronistic and shows evidence of narratorial intervention and invention, thereby rendering his interpretation unreliable. Chapter IV considers Cicero’s Verrine Orations and shows that his engagement with the two wars in the text cannot be used as a reliable indicator of historical fact because of the text’s continual engagement with history. Chapter V argues that the two leaders of the so-called Second Slave War, Salvius/Tryphon and Athenion, were described using the same matrix of ideas that were present for Eunus and Kleon, for the same rhetorical and narratological effect. Chapter VI analyses Diodorus’ narrative of the origin of the war, and shows that Diodorus only provides a chronology of coincidental events, and beyond a single connective narrative line, demonstrates no connection between these events. Finally, Chapter VII suggests that the best context in which to understand this war is that of a general breakdown of social order on Sicily at the end of the second century B.C. caused by internal political problems in the cities of Sicily. Further, the insurgency led by Salvius/Tryphon and Athenion is shown to be only part of a broader crisis on Sicily that stretched from 106-93 B.C., part of an extended stasis for the island. In sum, I argue that the events typically referred to as the Sicilian Slave Wars are better understood through a focus on the historical contexts provided by the Hellenistic milieu in which the wars arose and the development of the Roman provincial system – rather than through the (preconceived) lens of slavery: instead of servile unrest, there was civic disquiet, social disorder and provincial revolt on Sicily in the 2nd century BC.

Talks by Peter Morton

Research paper thumbnail of Civil wars and slave revolts: winning the war after the war

Research paper thumbnail of Slave revolts as metaphors: Livy and Diodorus Siculus as a new historiographical paradigm

Research paper thumbnail of The impact of empire: non-elite responses to Rome

Research paper thumbnail of Divination, discord, and cowardice? Leadership in the Second Sicilian Slave War

Research paper thumbnail of Diodorus Siculus, didacticism, and the 'Slave Wars'

Research paper thumbnail of The evolution of social order in Hellenistic Sicily

In his Bibliotheke, Diodorus Siculus aimed in part to correct the future behaviour of his readers... more In his Bibliotheke, Diodorus Siculus aimed in part to correct the future behaviour of his readers through measured use of free speech (παρρησία), offering both censure to bad men and praise to the good. On several occasions across the work Diodorus comments on former empires’ behaviour, and it has been argued that the work provides a guide to good empire for Rome, alongside a guarded critique of Rome’s actions in various theatres.

The aim of this paper is to reconsider how we should understand Diodorus’ references to the rise and fall of empires within the broader context of his Bibliotheke. This will be achieved through analysis of his two Sicilian ‘Slave War’ narratives. These two accounts have previously been understood as morally inspired commentaries on slave ownership (see e.g. Momigliano (1975), 33-34; Sacks (1990), 144-145; Urbainczyk (2008), 85-86). Nonetheless, despite the fragmentary survival of the text, Diodorus’ explicit commentary on the connection of the ‘Slave Wars’ to the broader themes of the Bibliotheke (e.g. DS 34/5.2.33, 39, 40) shows that these narratives can be better understood as didactic analogies for correct conduct during changes in fortune, be they social, military, or economic. This commentary should not be seen as directed only at the leaders of Rome.

I will argue that the two ‘Slave Wars’, in Diodorus’ reckoning, are a suitable analogy for the state of the Mediterranean in his day. His comments about correct behaviour were directed at the rapidly changing network of rulers and subjects across the Mediterranean, which arose from the expansion of Rome’s power under Pompeius Magnus and Julius Caesar. These ‘Slave War’ narratives, in turn, should be seen as part of the bigger story about the world being told by Diodorus, and they are subsequently less easily understood as straight ‘history’.

Research paper thumbnail of Slave war or Sicilian call to arms? A re-reading of the rebel coinage during the First Sicilian Slave War of the second century B.C.

135 B.C. -mistreated slaves revolt near Enna; the rebels seize Enna and Agrigentum, proclaim King... more 135 B.C. -mistreated slaves revolt near Enna; the rebels seize Enna and Agrigentum, proclaim King Antiochus. Roman praetor defeated in battle; second praetor assigned in 134 B.C. 134 B.C. -first Roman consul assigned to war; rebels seize Morgantina, maybe also Catana. 133 B.C. -second Roman consul assigned, with simultaneous praetor. 132 B.C. -third Roman consul assigned; rebels seize and then lose Tauromenium. Rebels defeated.

Research paper thumbnail of DIODORUS SICULUS THE HISTORIAN - (J.P.) Stronk Semiramis’ Legacy. The History of Persia According to Diodorus of Sicily. Pp. xviii + 606, ills, maps. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2017. Cased, £120. ISBN: 978-1-4744-1425-8. - (C.E.) Muntz Diodorus Siculus and the World of the Late Roman ...

The Classical Review, 2017

508–9), the brothers leave Attica untouched apart from seizing Aithra and rescuing Helen. Lycophr... more 508–9), the brothers leave Attica untouched apart from seizing Aithra and rescuing Helen. Lycophron’s poem, described by McN. and S. as a ‘bold generic experiment’ (p. 2), is the ongoing shaping of the Classical literary and mythological traditions, as a whole as well as the religious and social life of the ancient world. The book is a very well-written contribution to our understanding of Lycophron and Greek poetry and would serve as a model for other difficult authors or genres.

Research paper thumbnail of Diodorus Siculus’ ‘Slave War’ Narratives: Writing Social Commentary in the Bibliothēkē

The Classical Quarterly, 2018

Diodorus Siculus has not enjoyed a positive reputation among historians of antiquity. Since the n... more Diodorus Siculus has not enjoyed a positive reputation among historians of antiquity. Since the nineteenth century his Bibliothēkē has been dismissed as a derivative work produced by an incompetent compiler, useful often only in so far as one can mine his text for lost and, evidently, far superior works of history. Diodorus’ own input into the Bibliothēkē has been dismissed as the clumsy intervention of ‘a small man with pretensions’. In one of the sharpest expressions of the traditional view, Diodorus is not a historian but ‘a mere epitomizer and an incompetent one at that’. In recent years voices of dissent have spoken up, determined to investigate Diodorus’ own contribution to ancient historiography. Their contributions have been notable for their desire to study and understand Diodorus on his own terms or to problematize his derivative use of his sources. Sacks, in particular, has argued that Diodorus’ voice can be heard in nearly every proem, a feature that occurs regularly in ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Geography of Rebellion: Strategy and Supply in the Two ‘Sicilian Slave Wars’

Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies, 2014

The two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’ of the second century BC have rarely been studied in terms of their... more The two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’ of the second century BC have rarely been studied in terms of their strategic complexities. Previous efforts to do so have started from the assumption that each conflict was a priori the same or similar. In addition, both wars have been placed into a separate category of analysis from other wars, leading to analyses that have characterised the wars together as disorganized guerrilla campaigns or examples of ancient marronage. In this paper I argue, by contrast, that we must consider the two conflicts as separate entities, and that we must approach their study as we would any other wars. By studying the rebel strategies of each war in terms of their relationships with the geography of Sicily and the logistics of warfare I contend that the two wars were fought in contrasting manners, with the method used in the first being highly strategic, and in the second confused and ineffectual.

Research paper thumbnail of Eunus: The Cowardly King

The Classical Quarterly, 2013

In 135 b.c., unable to endure the treatment of their master Damophilus, a group of slaves, urged ... more In 135 b.c., unable to endure the treatment of their master Damophilus, a group of slaves, urged on by the wonder-worker Eunus, captured the city of Enna in Eastern Sicily in a night-time raid. The subsequent war, according to our sources the largest of its kind in antiquity, raged for three years, destroying the armies of Roman praetors, and engaging three consecutive consuls in its eventual suppression. The success of the rebels in holding out for years against a progression of Roman armies indicates the importance of the event, and the capabilities of their leaders. One expects the man capable of leading such a revolt to have been exceptional, and in this respect the ancient accounts do not disappoint: in a narrative replete with larger-than-life characters, ranging from the depraved slave-owner Damophilus (Diod. Sic. 34/5.2.10, 35–8) to the restrained Roman consul Calpurnius Piso (Val. Max. 4.3.10), one figure stands out in Diodorus…

Research paper thumbnail of Refiguring the Sicilian Slave Wars : from servile unrest to civic disquiet and social disorder

Research paper thumbnail of Rebels and slaves: reinterpreting the first Sicilian slave war

This thesis seeks to rethink the history of the First Sicilian Slave War in the second century B.... more This thesis seeks to rethink the history of the First Sicilian Slave War in the second century B.C. by reassessing the main literary source for the conflict, Diodorus Siculus, and introducing numismatic evidence for the conflict as a corrective to his testimony. Diodorus' narrative of the First Sicilian Slave War is discussed, and found to be a composite of two different narratives, each of which stresses different aspects about the First Sicilian Slave War. It is suggested that Diodorus combined the two narratives together in order to create his own, and that this knowledge allows us to read between the lines of his history and understand the history that lies behind it better. A case study of Diodorus' literary skills is presented, which discusses the ancient literary stereotypes and topoi that he used to describe the two leaders of the First Sicilian Slave War: Eunus/King Antiochus and Cleon. The conclusion reached is that Diodorus' descriptions of Eunus and Cleon, of a charlatan magician and a bandit herdsman respectively, achieved literary aims, and were not historical descriptions and cannot be used as such. As a way around the difficulties presented by Diodorus, a detailed study of the coinage of Eunus/King Antiochus is provided in order to assess how he wanted himself to be seen. This concludes that the coinage of Eunus/King Antiochus does not support the evidence of Diodorus about the First Sicilian Slave War, and that another understanding of the conflict must be considered: that it was not a slave rebellion, but a rebellion against Roman rule on Sicily.

Research paper thumbnail of G. MANGANARO,PACE E GUERRA NELLA SICILIA TARDO-ELLENISTICA E ROMANA (215 A.C.–14 D.C.): RICERCHE STORICHE E NUMISMATICHE (Nomismata 7).Bonn:Habelt Verlag,2012. Pp. 170, 41 pls.isbn9783774937710. €39.00

Journal of Roman Studies, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of (N.) McKeown The Invention of Ancient Slavery? Pp. 174. London: Duckworth, 2007. Paper, £12.99. ISBN: 978-0-7156-3185-0

The Classical Review, 2009

Slavery can be a very divisive topic, and not only among academics. In order to understand the ‘p... more Slavery can be a very divisive topic, and not only among academics. In order to understand the ‘peculiar institution’ scholars have assumed a number of political, moral and academic standpoints and methods to aid them in constructing their narratives. In his book, McK. thought-provokingly considers some of the more in·uential methods used in the study of ancient slavery in order to explain how ancient history is written, and how it ends up being, in many cases, so di¶erent. The major worth of the book is in reminding its readers, undergraduates and established scholars alike, that any view of history is unavoidably informed by the views of the person creating it. McK.’s contention that ‘when we explore [the past], we tend to μnd what we are looking for’ (p. 29) is a valuable one, especially in the context of slavery studies. With this in mind, and using his endless ability to anticipate di¶erent interpretations of evidence based on the ‘unexamined assumptions’ (p. 31) of any scholar, he engages with a variety of scholars and approaches. Chapters 1 to 6 focus on Roman slavery; the seventh alone deals with Greek slavery. The μrst chapter engages with early twentieth-century racist views of freedman integration into Roman society. As an introduction to the ideas of the book, this chapter admirably refuses to judge the scholars who maintained these views (T. Frank, ‘Race Mixture in the Roman Empire’, American Historical Review 21.4 [1916], 689–708 to name one), and McK. argues that modern interpretations about successful integration of freedmen into Roman society re·ect as much on the political era in which they were written as they do on the older racist views. This sets the tone for much of the book. In Chapter 2, McK. shows that the same evidence can be used to argue for widespread punishment and fear of slaves, or for a strong a¶ection between slaves and masters; his opinion would appear to be that either is possible, but that the non-existence of either is not plausible. The third chapter again o¶ers a challenge to how evidence is interpreted, this time questioning the assumptions on which the interpretation of Marxist scholarship is based (in this case E.M Shtaerman & M.K. Troμmova, La schiavitu nell’Italia imperiale: I–III secolo [Rome, 1975]), while Chapter 4 shows that the way in which Keith Bradley used evidence for his books was informed by his chosen emphasis for his work, and that his methodology in comparative work was similarly in·uenced. McK. extends this thesis in Chapter 5 to literary readings of slavery, arguing persuasively that the same problems of ‘unexamined assumptions’ are present even in supposedly ‘post-modern’ authors. The sixth chapter examines statistical approaches to ancient slavery. This chapter, having contained like the other chapters incisive comments about how ‘soft’ (p. 138) some of the evidence employed is, ends by conμrming that while the statistical approach can provide greater certainties in some areas, it is none the less governed by ‘unconscious starting assumptions’ (p. 140). In the μnal chapter McK. sets out to assess the scholars of Greek slave history, an area where he feels ‘exciting new opportunities’ (p. 142) may be found. He argues that Greek scholars potentially point up a new way of working on slavery, in spite of the fact that their work is a¶ected in the same way as that of the Roman scholars discussed in the rest of the book. While not o¶ering any explicitly new scholarship, the comments in the book are consistently insightful, and the clear English makes it a joy to read. It reminds readers to be aware of the preconceptions in their historical arguments.

Research paper thumbnail of Diodorus Siculus' 'Slave War' Narratives: Writing Social Commentary in the Bibliotheke

Classical Quarterly, 2018

Diodorus Siculus has not enjoyed a positive reputation among historians of antiquity. Since the n... more Diodorus Siculus has not enjoyed a positive reputation among historians of antiquity. Since the nineteenth century his Bibliothēkē has been dismissed as a derivative work produced by an incompetent compiler, useful often only in so far as one can mine his text for lost and, evidently, far superior works of history. Diodorus’ own input into the Bibliothēkē has been dismissed as the clumsy intervention of ‘a small man with pretensions’. In one of the sharpest expressions of the traditional view, Diodorus is not a historian but ‘a mere epitomizer and an incompetent one at that’. In recent years voices of dissent have spoken up, determined to investigate Diodorus’ own contribution to ancient historiography. Their contributions have been notable for their desire to study and understand Diodorus on his own terms or to problematize his derivative use of his sources. Sacks, in particular, has argued that Diodorus’ voice can be heard in nearly every proem, a feature that occurs regularly in the text, and that Diodorus’ own views structure his analysis of historical events copied from other authors.

Research paper thumbnail of Filling in the Gaps: Studying Anachronism in Diodorus Siculus' Narrative of the First Sicilian 'Slave War'

A. Meeus (ed.), Narrative in Hellenistic Historiography, Histos Supplements 8, 2018

Diodorus Siculus' narrative of the First Sicilian 'Slave War' is often considered to offer an 'ac... more Diodorus Siculus' narrative of the First Sicilian 'Slave War' is often considered to offer an 'accurate, reliable, and comprehensive' account of the war. This article aims to demonstrate that the text is not necessarily authoritative by reassessing the narrative function of an anachronistic explanatory passage that is often 'fixed' in modern accounts with a plausible, but hypothetical alternative. It is argued that we cannot 'fix' this anachronism without thereby jeopardising the text's narrative structure. In sum, the anachronism was inserted because the author did not understand the events he narrated or their immediate historical context.

Research paper thumbnail of  The Geography of Rebellion: Strategy and Supply in the two ‘Sicilian Slave Wars’

The two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’ of the second century BC have rarely been studied in terms of their... more The two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’ of the second century BC have rarely been studied in terms of their strategic complexities. Previous efforts to do so have started from the assumption that each conflict was a priori the same or similar. In addition, both wars have been placed into a separate category of analysis from other wars, leading to analyses that have characterised the wars together as disorganized guerrilla campaigns or examples of ancient marronage. In this paper I argue, in contrast, that we must consider the two conflicts as separate entities, and that we must approach their study as we would any other wars. By studying the rebel strategies of each war in terms of their relationships with the geography of Sicily and the logistics of warfare I contend that the two wars were fought in contrasting manners, with the first highly strategic, and the second confused and ineffectual.

Research paper thumbnail of Eunus: the cowardly King

Research paper thumbnail of Refiguring the Sicilian Slave Wars: from Servile Unrest to Civic Disquiet and Social Disorder

This study argues that the so-called Sicilian Slave Wars are best understood as two differing ins... more This study argues that the so-called Sicilian Slave Wars are best understood as two differing instances of civic disquiet, social disorder and provincial revolt in Sicily, rather than as slave wars. Both events are reconnected to their Sicilian context geographically, politically and socially, and shown to have arisen from those contexts. This thesis is demonstrated in seven chapters. Chapter I reassesses the principle evidence for the kingdom established by the rebels in the first war: their numismatic issues. This evidence is best understood in the context of contemporary Sicilian numismatics and emphasises the Sicilian nature of the uprising. It is argued that the insurgency was contingent on the support of certain parts of the (free) Sicilian populace. Chapter II presents a reinterpretation of Diodorus’ text from a narratological point of view. The text is shown to be highly rhetorical and constructed with a view to demonise the leaders of the first war, Eunus and Cleon, through reference to Hellenistic stereotypes of femininity, cowardliness, magic and banditry. Chapter III argues that Diodorus’ explanation of the origin of the war is anachronistic and shows evidence of narratorial intervention and invention, thereby rendering his interpretation unreliable. Chapter IV considers Cicero’s Verrine Orations and shows that his engagement with the two wars in the text cannot be used as a reliable indicator of historical fact because of the text’s continual engagement with history. Chapter V argues that the two leaders of the so-called Second Slave War, Salvius/Tryphon and Athenion, were described using the same matrix of ideas that were present for Eunus and Kleon, for the same rhetorical and narratological effect. Chapter VI analyses Diodorus’ narrative of the origin of the war, and shows that Diodorus only provides a chronology of coincidental events, and beyond a single connective narrative line, demonstrates no connection between these events. Finally, Chapter VII suggests that the best context in which to understand this war is that of a general breakdown of social order on Sicily at the end of the second century B.C. caused by internal political problems in the cities of Sicily. Further, the insurgency led by Salvius/Tryphon and Athenion is shown to be only part of a broader crisis on Sicily that stretched from 106-93 B.C., part of an extended stasis for the island. In sum, I argue that the events typically referred to as the Sicilian Slave Wars are better understood through a focus on the historical contexts provided by the Hellenistic milieu in which the wars arose and the development of the Roman provincial system – rather than through the (preconceived) lens of slavery: instead of servile unrest, there was civic disquiet, social disorder and provincial revolt on Sicily in the 2nd century BC.

Research paper thumbnail of Civil wars and slave revolts: winning the war after the war

Research paper thumbnail of Slave revolts as metaphors: Livy and Diodorus Siculus as a new historiographical paradigm

Research paper thumbnail of The impact of empire: non-elite responses to Rome

Research paper thumbnail of Divination, discord, and cowardice? Leadership in the Second Sicilian Slave War

Research paper thumbnail of Diodorus Siculus, didacticism, and the 'Slave Wars'

Research paper thumbnail of The evolution of social order in Hellenistic Sicily

In his Bibliotheke, Diodorus Siculus aimed in part to correct the future behaviour of his readers... more In his Bibliotheke, Diodorus Siculus aimed in part to correct the future behaviour of his readers through measured use of free speech (παρρησία), offering both censure to bad men and praise to the good. On several occasions across the work Diodorus comments on former empires’ behaviour, and it has been argued that the work provides a guide to good empire for Rome, alongside a guarded critique of Rome’s actions in various theatres.

The aim of this paper is to reconsider how we should understand Diodorus’ references to the rise and fall of empires within the broader context of his Bibliotheke. This will be achieved through analysis of his two Sicilian ‘Slave War’ narratives. These two accounts have previously been understood as morally inspired commentaries on slave ownership (see e.g. Momigliano (1975), 33-34; Sacks (1990), 144-145; Urbainczyk (2008), 85-86). Nonetheless, despite the fragmentary survival of the text, Diodorus’ explicit commentary on the connection of the ‘Slave Wars’ to the broader themes of the Bibliotheke (e.g. DS 34/5.2.33, 39, 40) shows that these narratives can be better understood as didactic analogies for correct conduct during changes in fortune, be they social, military, or economic. This commentary should not be seen as directed only at the leaders of Rome.

I will argue that the two ‘Slave Wars’, in Diodorus’ reckoning, are a suitable analogy for the state of the Mediterranean in his day. His comments about correct behaviour were directed at the rapidly changing network of rulers and subjects across the Mediterranean, which arose from the expansion of Rome’s power under Pompeius Magnus and Julius Caesar. These ‘Slave War’ narratives, in turn, should be seen as part of the bigger story about the world being told by Diodorus, and they are subsequently less easily understood as straight ‘history’.

Research paper thumbnail of Slave war or Sicilian call to arms? A re-reading of the rebel coinage during the First Sicilian Slave War of the second century B.C.

135 B.C. -mistreated slaves revolt near Enna; the rebels seize Enna and Agrigentum, proclaim King... more 135 B.C. -mistreated slaves revolt near Enna; the rebels seize Enna and Agrigentum, proclaim King Antiochus. Roman praetor defeated in battle; second praetor assigned in 134 B.C. 134 B.C. -first Roman consul assigned to war; rebels seize Morgantina, maybe also Catana. 133 B.C. -second Roman consul assigned, with simultaneous praetor. 132 B.C. -third Roman consul assigned; rebels seize and then lose Tauromenium. Rebels defeated.

Research paper thumbnail of Social decay in Sicily? Going beyond slavery in the Second Sicilian Slave War

Research paper thumbnail of Social decay in Sicily during the Second Sicilian "Slave War"

Research paper thumbnail of The Elephant in the Room: what do we mean by a 'slave revolt?'

Research paper thumbnail of Understanding Hellenistic Sicilian identities: the role of coinage in the creation and manipulation of local identites

The paper will investigate the role that localised coinage can play in understanding the developm... more The paper will investigate the role that localised coinage can play in understanding the development of Sicilian identities in the Hellenistic period. The complexity of Sicilian identity in the Hellenistic period is increasingly understood in recent scholarship. The varying ways in which Sicilians expressed their identities on inscriptions and civic monuments, both before and after the Second Punic War, has shown that the process of articulating and defining identity in Sicily was an ongoing and multi-directional dialogue. Overall, there is increasing evidence of a strong Hellenistic civic culture in Sicily during the second and first centuries B.C., and the picture that emerges is of an island enjoying considerable success under the Romans with a consistent civic and polis identity displayed by the various different Sicilian peoples and cities. However, despite the considerable work undertaken on the archaeological and epigraphic evidence for Sicilian identities, there has been almost no work whatsoever done on the coinage of Sicily in this context. In the period following the end of the Second Punic War, a wide variety of cities produced localised bronze coinages, with some cities producing them for the first time in their history. These remarkable bronze coinages produced across Sicily after the Second Punic have not been integrated into this understanding, leading to an incomplete picture of the complexity of Sicilian identities during the last two centuries B.C. In my paper I will argue that by investigating the way in which Sicilian coinage circulated after the Second Punic War, we can see that certain expressions of civic identity were peculiar to specific areas of the island, and that these separate identities could be exploited for political gain in certain circumstances. In the first part of the paper, I will offer a tentative reconstruction of how Sicilian coinage circulated, using data drawn from the excavations of Morgantina and Ietas. This will show that different areas of Sicily, roughly defined by geographic features, had discrete spheres of circulation, and that each of these areas of circulation displayed varying forms of cultural expression. To give an example of how this research can inform us further about the process of defining identity in Sicily, I will investigate as a case study the coinage produced in the short-lived kingdom of King Antiochus during the First Sicilian ‘Slave War’. By studying Antiochus’ coinage in the context of how Sicilian coins circulated and were viewed, we will be able to understand why Antiochus presented himself as he did to the people of eastern Sicily, where his kingdom was based. By connecting his coinage to the context in which it circulated, and showing the cultural and historical connections that Antiochus made with his coinage, we will see that he was appealing to a form of cultural expression designed to unify the people of eastern Sicily against external aggressors, effectively placing himself as the defender of eastern Sicilian freedom and autonomy. Through this investigation, we will see that the coinage of Sicily must take its place in the study of Sicilian identity in the Hellenistic period.

Research paper thumbnail of Narrative complexity in Diodorus Siculus: Eunus' narrative in the First Sicilian Slave War

Diodorus Siculus’ account of the First Sicilian Slave War in books 34/5 of his Bibliotheke is dom... more Diodorus Siculus’ account of the First Sicilian Slave War in books 34/5 of his Bibliotheke is dominated by the larger-than-life figure of Eunus, the wonder-working king of the rebels. Modern discussions of this colourful character have either taken the description of Eunus in this narrative to be a faithful, historical representation (Green 1961; Vogt 1965: 29-30; Manganaro 1967: 205-22; Bradley 1989: 116-20), or sought to reinterpret Diodorus’ hostile account in a positive historical context (Toynbee 1965: 405; Finley 1968: 140; Urbainczyk 2008: 52). An underappreciated element of Diodorus’ narrative is the important role of the narrator in defining how Eunus’ character is perceived, through careful verbal links within the narrative, and signposting of Eunus’ qualities through significant vocabulary choices. The aim of this paper is to highlight two elements in this construction in order to demonstrate that Diodorus’ narrative must be read with a full appreciation of its literary complexity.

In the first part of the paper, the description of Eunus’ acclamation as taking place οὔτε δι’ ἀνδρείαν οὔτε διὰ στρατηγίαν will be discussed, demonstrating the importance of this phrase, and the specific terms within it, to how Diodorus conceptualised the correct role a Hellenistic king should play in relation to his subjects. By implying that Eunus himself lacked the qualities of ἀνδρεία and στρατηγία, Diodorus connected him in a negative fashion to a wider ideal of Hellenistic kingship, and in turn undermined any subsequent actions undertaken by Eunus in his role as the royal leader of the rebellion. Furthermore, the implication that Eunus was, in fact, a coward, will be shown to influence the reading of Eunus’ death in the narrative, in which each of his actions leading up to his capture are defined by their cowardly inspiration, a trait in Eunus earlier implied by the narrator.

In the second part of the paper, the literary plays engaged in by the text will be demonstrated further by reference to the use of the verb ψυχαγωγέω to describe one of Eunus’ final four companions’ actions at drinking bouts. By describing this companion as τετάρτου τοῦ παρὰ τοὺς πότους εἰωθότος ψυχαγωγεῖν [Εὔνουν], the narrator connected Eunus, through interlinking verbal play, to his erstwhile master. Earlier in the narrative, Eunus’ master is depicted as ψυχαγωγούμενος by Eunus’ knowledge of wonders, and this in turn caused him to invite Eunus to become his banquet entertainer. By this verbal link, therefore, Diodorus’ narrative sought to create a circle in Eunus’ personal narrative: from being the beguiler of a foolish master Eunus, in turn, was beguiled himself, assuming the role of the master he had earlier put to death during the revolt.

Through these examples, I will argue that Diodorus’ narrative was capable of considerable literary skill, and that the text’s interactions with Eunus demonstrate the need to treat with care a narrative that has, in the past, been used primarily as a source of uncomplicated information regarding the history of slavery in Hellenistic Sicily.

Research paper thumbnail of Hellenistic Sicily. Reading the social landscape through numismatics.

Recent scholarship on mid to late Hellenistic Sicily has emphasised the island’s vibrant Hellenis... more Recent scholarship on mid to late Hellenistic Sicily has emphasised the island’s vibrant Hellenistic political and social culture. Considerable prominence has been placed on the potential role of epigraphic and archaeological evidence in understanding the development of Sicily’s relationship with Rome. Despite the substantial advances made in this field, certain forms of evidence have remained underappreciated. The aim of this paper is to offer a suggestion of one way in which numismatic evidence from the period can inform us about Sicily and its people. In particular, the paper offers a reassessment of the well-known rise in localised bronze coin production of the second and first centuries B.C. in the context of the wider circulation of coinage in Sicily.

Therefore, this paper will comprise of two parts. The first will offer a tentative reconstruction of Sicilian coin circulation, based on coin hoards from across the island and the work of Mariangela Puglisi. This will demonstrate that Sicily’s economy was reliant on coinage from Rome, Hieronian Syracuse, and Catana. Therefore, the small-scale bronze coinages produced across Sicily, while important for studying civic identities, were not economically significant. In the second part, a specific series of coins will be considered to establish how these localised coinages can inform us about the political and social narrative of Sicilian history, despite their insignificance economically. This section will show that when viewed as a part of all Sicilian numismatics, the coinage produced by King Antiochus’ ill-fated revolt from 136-132 B.C. exhibits a strong connection to certain coin types particular to eastern Sicily. In turn, this will suggest that the revolt led by Antiochus can lend insight into the complex interactions and negotiations taking place in Sicily that are otherwise difficult to discern in other forms of evidence typically foregrounded in the study of Sicilian history.

Research paper thumbnail of The geography of rebellion: strategy and supply in the two Sicilian Slave Wars

As military events, the two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’ have received little attention. The fragmentary... more As military events, the two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’ have received little attention. The fragmentary texts and seemingly inevitable defeat of the insurrectionist forces can appear to make any analysis of the strategies and tactics employed by either side irrelevant. In his article on Slave wars of Greece and Rome, as part of a volume on ancient strategy, Barry Strauss summed up the prevailing view of ‘servile revolts’ in the ancient world (2010: 201): ‘From a military point of view, [the slave revolts] demonstrate the unlikelihood of insurrections defeating regular armies…They could march their men in mock legions and defeat frightened local militia…Once the state bore down on them with all its might, however, they faced ruin…’ Most striking of all, every effort to understand how the rebels fought has argued that the two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’ must be studied for their exceptional nature, through comparisons to maroonage, guerrilla warfare, or a pseudo-modern insurgency. In this paper, I will argue that these approaches have misinterpreted the strategy of the two Sicilian ‘Slave Wars’. My aim is to demonstrate two points. First, that the geography and topography of Sicily is the key to comprehending how the two events were fought; I will show that the first war in particular is best understood when it is studied as a normal instance of ancient warfare, rather than as an example of a ‘servile insurrection’. This is most clear when we study the actions of the rebels in relation to a strategy aimed at inhibiting Roman access to supplies in during the war. Secondly, I will argue that the two events must be understood as separate and distinct episodes of warfare, and that analysing them as similar events merely because they may have been ‘slave revolts’ is problematic and misleading: the first war was fought with a clear strategy and no little success, while the second war had no discernible long term strategy.

Research paper thumbnail of Nicomedes, P. Licinius Nerva and Sicily: the origins of the so-called Second Sicilian Slave War

According to Diodorus Siculus’ account of so-called Second Sicilian Slave War, preserved in the 3... more According to Diodorus Siculus’ account of so-called Second Sicilian Slave War, preserved in the 36th book of his Bibliotheke, the war’s origins lay in Marius’ efforts to bolster Rome’s forces in 104 B.C. with allied contingents from Nicomedes of Bithynia. Yet, this account is at odds in certain important details with our other remaining source for the origins of the war, preserved in a fragment of Cassius Dio’s history. Modern work on the conflict has not engaged with this problem in the past, leading to confusion as to the root cause of the uprising. Furthermore, Diodorus’ narrative is itself unclear as to the causal links between the various stories he provides as a background for the so-called Second Sicilian Slave War. This paper aims to analyse the narrative inconsistencies between Diodorus and Dio, as well as Diodorus’ other origin narratives for the conflict in order to assess how far we can use the evidence provided by Diodorus and Dio to further our own understanding of the cause of the so-called Second Sicilian Slave War.

Research paper thumbnail of Eunus the cowardly king: suitable for his subjects?

Diodorus Siculus’ account of the First Sicilian Slave War in book 34/5 of his Bibliotheke is domi... more Diodorus Siculus’ account of the First Sicilian Slave War in book 34/5 of his Bibliotheke is dominated by the figure of Eunus, the wonder-working king. Modern discussions of this colourful character have typically sought to understand how his wonder-working and religious manias allow us to understand better the development and nature of the insurrection. The contention in this paper is that this focus on the wonder-working has led modern scholars to ignore another, vitally important facet of Eunus’ character in the narrative: his cowardly nature.

It will be shown that Diodorus’ narrative aimed, at vital moments of Eunus’ career as leader of the rebels, to undercut his achievements with carefully aimed barbs that linked his insufficiencies as a leader to a strong Hellenistic ideology about kingship. Two episodes in particular will be discussed: Eunus’ acclamation to kingship, and his capture at the end of the war. Both incidents will demonstrate that not only in relation to Hellenistic ideology, but especially within Diodorus’ Bibliotheke, Eunus’ personal attributes were shown to be completely inappropriate for a king. Furthermore, it will be argued that the method by which these traits are imparted on Eunus by Diodorus suggests that they cannot be firmly attributed to Eunus as a historical figure, merely as a literary figure in Diodorus’ narrative. It follows that we should question not just the presentation of Eunus by Diodorus, but, moreover, the characterisation of other figures or aspects in the story – even that of the event in question being a slave rebellion.

Research paper thumbnail of A society in disorder: Sicily at the end of the second century B.C.

Diodorus Siculus’ narrative of the so-called Second Sicilian Slave War (in book 36 of the Bibliot... more Diodorus Siculus’ narrative of the so-called Second Sicilian Slave War (in book 36 of the Bibliotheke) preserves unique evidence for a general breakdown of social order on Sicily at the end of the second century B.C. During the height of the slave insurrection, members of the free poor turned on the upper-classes within the cities and rioted through the countryside, burning property and mistreating formerly important members of their communities. Yet, despite the opportunity presented to investigate the political and social landscape of Sicily in this period, scholarship interested in understanding how Sicily developed as an society in the last two centuries B.C. has largely ignored Diodorus’ narrative, focusing instead on epigraphic and archaeological evidence. From this it has been argued that in this period Sicily was experiencing a period of economic revival, typified in the construction of large-scale public buildings in many sites across Sicily. This paper aims to explore the dichotomy between the account of Diodorus, and the material evidence.

This will be achieved in two ways. First, the disorder in Sicily will be contextualised through a comparison with the social and political violence of late Republican Rome. There a breakdown of the bonds of society, and the weakening of traditional ties between the varying levels of society led to outbreaks of extreme violence and rioting at various times. Second, modern theories of the links between social, economic and political inequality and the rise of violence, including the effects of relational distance between those involved, will be drawn on to demonstrate that the violence described in Sicily by Diodorus is completely explicable in the context of an economically and politically vibrant, yet socially unequal society.

Research paper thumbnail of A broken narrative: observing history in the making

οἱ δὲ στρατηγοὶ κωλύειν μὲν ἐπεχείρουν τὴν ἀπόνοιαν τῶν οἰκετῶν͵ κολάζειν δὲ οὐ τολμῶντες διὰ τὴν... more οἱ δὲ στρατηγοὶ κωλύειν μὲν ἐπεχείρουν τὴν ἀπόνοιαν τῶν οἰκετῶν͵ κολάζειν δὲ οὐ τολμῶντες διὰ τὴν ἰσχὺν καὶ τὸ βάρος τῶν κυρίων ἠναγκάζοντο περιορᾶν τὴν ἐπαρχίαν λῃστευομένην. οἱ πλεῖστοι γὰρ τῶν κτητόρων ἱππεῖς ὄντες ἐντελεῖς τῶν Ῥωμαίων͵ καὶ κριταὶ τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπαρχιῶν κατηγορουμένοις στρατηγοῖς γινόμενοι͵ φοβεροὶ ταῖς ἀρχαῖς ὑπῆρχον.

Research paper thumbnail of Shall I compare thee… The place of history in Cicero’s Verrine Orations

With the exception of the Sicily’s two descents into turmoil during the Sicilian Insurrection and... more With the exception of the Sicily’s two descents into turmoil during the Sicilian Insurrection and the so-called Second Sicilian Slave War, and its despoilment at the hands of Verres the island never featured on the historiographical radar; it has subsequently been a much ignored aspect of Rome’s gradual growth into the Mediterranean super power it became by the end of the first century B.C. In recent memory this has begun to change, with an increased interest in Sicily itself, and not just its relationship with its imperial master, Rome. Yet, for those wanting to understand Sicily in the mid to late Hellenistic Sicily, the figure of Cicero stands astride the field, dictating how much we know, and what we know about. His Verrine Orations, a masterpiece of ancient rhetoric, is also the prime literary source of information regarding the organisation of the province, and its peoples’ inter-relationship with Rome.

This paper deals with a simple question: when we reconstruct the place of Sicily in the Hellenistic world, how far can we rely on Cicero’s reconstruction of the loyalties and ties that bound Sicily to Rome? In a text whose primary aim was to convict an apparent madman of peculation, can we trust how the people of Sicily are presented? These questions will be approached through an analysis of the one of the principal comparisons that Cicero engages in during the Verrine Orations, that between Verres and the conqueror of Syracuse, M. Claudius Marcellus. Cicero’s reconstruction of Marcellus’ interactions with Syracuse, in comparison with those of Verres, will be compared with other historical traditions to show that, in a text interlaced with rhetorical embellishments, history was a malleable construct, moulded to suit the purposes required of it throughout the orations.

Research paper thumbnail of Diodorus’ sources for the First Sicilian Slave War: merely a “slavish copyist”?

Research paper thumbnail of Slavery and Rebellion in Second-Century BC Sicily: From Bellum Servile to Sicilia Capta

Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Slavery Edinburgh University Press This is the first book-length st... more Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Slavery
Edinburgh University Press

This is the first book-length study in English dedicated to an exploration of the events traditionally known as the two Sicilian Slave Wars. The second-century BC revolts are commonly included among the largest slave uprisings in world history and are considered key milestones in the timeline of Roman slavery. This book offers a re-examination of the so-called Slave Wars from the perspectives of the rebels and argues that these occurrences should be understood not as slave revolts but as rebellions ignited by the socio-economic and political difficulties caused by the Roman-backed status quo on Sicily.

Analysing a diverse range of sources and material evidence, the book champions the perspectives of the rebels over those of the Graeco-Roman elite expressed in much later configurations of the events and provides radically new assessments of these elite histories while focusing on their status as slave-owner narratives. Opening a new window into the Sicilian rebellions, this book enables the contextualisation of these ancient revolts through uprisings in more recent times in the USA, Brazil and the Caribbean and offers a unique opportunity not only to study how the Roman Empire was formed and challenged but also to reconfigure our modern understanding of rebellions involving the enslaved.