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Livy

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description Livy Overview

Livy, or Titus Livius, was a Roman historian who wrote Ab Urbe Condita Libri, a history of Rome from its legendary foundation to his own time. The work originally comprised 142 books, of which 35 survive in full or substantial form; Livy's narrative is an important literary source for Rome's early history and the Republic, although its legends and speeches must be assessed alongside other evidence.

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What is Livy's Ab Urbe Condita?

Ab Urbe Condita, or From the Foundation of the City, is Livy's monumental Latin history of Rome. The work originally contained 142 books and traced Roman history from the city's legendary foundation to the death of Drusus in 9 BC. [Treccani overview](https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/ab-urbe-condita-libri_res-5d3fad2d-b22b-11e5-b181-00271042e8d9/)

How much of Livy's history of Rome survives?

Only 35 of the original 142 books survive in complete or near-complete form, mainly Books 1 to 10 and 21 to 45. Summaries and fragments preserve some information about the lost books.

Is Livy a reliable source for the founding of Rome?

Livy is indispensable but not a modern eyewitness source for Rome's legendary early centuries. He wrote under Augustus and used earlier annalistic material, mixing moral interpretation with traditions whose historical accuracy is difficult to test.

Which part of Livy is most useful for the Second Punic War?

Books 21 to 30 provide Livy's major narrative of Hannibal's invasion of Italy and the Second Punic War. They include Roman accounts of figures such as Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, and Fabius Maximus.

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