HANNIBAL, ELEPHANTS AND TURRETS IN SUDA Θ 438 [POLYBIUS FR. 162B] – AN UNIDENTIFIED FRAGMENT OF DIODORUS

What is it about?

This paper examines the source, transmission and historical significance of an unattributed quotation in Suda Θ 438: Θωράκιον. Concerning Hannibal and elephants, the fragment evidently originates in a historical work on the Second Punic War. Long-term recognition that the compiler(s) of the Suda drew this category of exemplary citation indirectly via lost volumes of the Excerpta Constantiniana assists in delimiting the possible candidates for authorship. While older scholarship doubtfully assigned the text to Polybius [fr. 162B], lexical evidence and contextual arguments are adduced in favour of Diodorus. The technical content of the fragment is assessed and integrated into scholarly debate regarding the equipment and handling of Carthaginian war-elephants.

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