Livy's Written Rome

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The fascination with Rome's blend of past and present extends beyond modern times, captivating even the ancients. In this exploration, one writer examines the interplay between Roman historical events, their landscapes, and the monuments that honor them. While Augustus reshaped the city to embody imperial ideology, the historian Livy crafted a written Rome, encouraging readers to see beyond the transformed landscape and glean insights from the lost Republic. This in-depth study of Livy's engagement with the urban environment offers fresh perspectives on his historiographical interpretations. It delves into the Roman concept of monuments as intersections of memory and space, providing new readings of key historical episodes, such as the battle over the Sabine Women and the trials of the Scipios. Although Livy has faced criticism for not aligning with modern historiographical standards, his literary artistry is widely acknowledged, with recent scholarship highlighting the complexity of his thought. This work investigates how Livy's texts challenge conventional views on memory's role in civic identity, revealing a significant aspect of his portrayal of urban Rome. The book appeals to classicists, historians, students of ancient historiography and rhetoric, and readers interested in memory, monuments, and historical narrative. Mary Jaeger is a Professor of Classics at the University of Oregon.