Overview

An examination of the use that Livy makes of religious topics (the supernatural and prodigies, piety and impiety, scepticism, and fate and fortune) and to show how this fits in with other aspects of his narrative. The author begins by showing how Livy's views of religion depend not on personal belief, but on the refinement of his narrative technique. He then looks at the history decade by decade, seeing radical differences between the different sections: in some Livy uses large-scale religious themes, but in others he deliberately avoids them. It is shown that this is not simply due to subject matter, but reflects a development in Livy's handling of his material. The book argues that this profound difference between decades throws doubt on much of the standard picture of Livy: it also points to a need to revise notions of Augustan religions ideology.

Full Product Details

9789004096172

Table of Contents

Reviews

'.. .rescues Livy from the annalistic tradition and places him where he belongs, among the literary artists.'<br>Kirk Summers, Religious Studies Review, 1994.<br>'.. .a careful, learned, and illuminating study of Livy's use of religious and ritual motifs.'<br>Christina S. Kraus, Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 1994.<br>' The strength of L.'s book lies [...] in the comprehensiveness of his investigation.'<br>W. Liebeschuetz, Journal of Roman Studies, 1995.<br>' Cette version revue d'une thhse de doctorat prisentie Oxford en 1989 nous propose une analyse, ditaillie, irudite et systimatique, de la manihre dont les donnies religieuses sont utilisies par l'historien. L'approche diffirente, mise en oevre ici [...] nous vaut en tout cas un excellent travail, le meilleur qu'il nous ait iti donni de lire depuis longtemps sur ce sujet difficile.'<br>Jacques Poucet, L'Antiquiti, 1995.<br>

Author Information

D.S. Levene was educated at the City of London School and Brasenose College, Oxford. His publications include articles on Sallust and Tacitus; he is currently Junior Research Fellow at Brasenose College.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available