Da Livio a Silio, passando per Lucano: l'episodio di Decio nei Punica (Sil., 11, 155- 258; 377-384)

In Punica 11, Silius narrates the struggle of Decius against his fellow-citizens, the Capuans, who are going to betray Rome and side with Hannibal in the aftermath of Cannae ‒ an episode taken from Livy 23. Silius’ portrayal of Decius as a Stoic hero who fights alone for liberty and justice is highly reminiscent of Lucan’s Cato Uticensis, as he appears in books 2 and 9 of the bellum civile. The article examines a considerable number of allusions to Lucan in the Decius episode and shows how Silius adapts many Lucanian scenes to his own narration. Reflections are also made on Silius’ intertextual technique, combining formal adherence to, and ‘deviation’ in meaning from his model.