Thucydides in Rome and Late Antiquity

Abstract

The earliest reference we have to a Roman knowing Thucydides' work is in connection with Cato the Elder (234-149 BC), who, according to Plutarch, developed an interest in Greek culture. Plutarch (Cat. Ma. 2.5) speaks of two Greek authors whom Cato drew upon during this late acquaintance with Greek literature, Thucydides and Demosthenes. The collection of Greek historical works found in the King's library at Pella would certainly have included Thucydides, and it is quite plausible that the shift in Cato's views on history was linked to the arrival in Rome of these Macedonian books. Polybius' historical work includes a thorough, sometimes harsh review of previous Greek historiography. Thucydides is explicitly referred to in a passage. Apellicon's Thucydides had another interesting characteristic, namely that it gave a complete account of the Peloponnesian War. Dionysius repeatedly maintains that Thucydides chose a very poor ending for his work. Keywords: Cato; Dionysius; Greek culture; Plutarch; Polybius; Rome; Thucydides