Livio, Annibale e la mutatio dei mores populi Romani

This article proposes an analysis of Livy’s description of the last moments of Hannibal’s life and his final speech. Through Hannibal’s words, Livy highlights the moral decadence of the Romans who, from the beginning of the 2nd century B.C., abandoned the mores antiqui and chose to engage in an unscrupulous conduct devoid of fides towards their adversaries. This portrayal serves as a critique of the declining values and ethical standards prevalent in Roman society. Furthermore, the article emphasizes the significance of Livy’s choice of Hannibal as a critic of the Romans’ moral decline.