Parricidales discordiae: i Seleucidi nei libri XXXIV-XXXVI e XXXVIII-XL di Giustino

The present article is dedicated to the portraits of the Seleucid kings which are delineated in books XXXIV-XXXVI and XXXVIII-XL of Justin’ Epitome and to the events which involve this dynasty. I will focus on the criteria underlying the selection of the material by Trogus/Justin, and on the distortion of some data, so to fit the general assumption that most of these Seleucids were inadequate kings and dishonourable successors of Alexander the Great. Particular attention is paid to a passage of book XXXIV, the famous encounter between king Antiochus IV of Syria and Popillius Laenas, in order to show the historical value of the evidence of the Epitome, which does not merely reproduce Polybius’ account, but rather reflects the Roman perspective and tradition on this episode.