Fabius Pictor and Delphi
https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6339-2025-5-113-129
Abstract
Fabius Pictor was the first Roman to write the history of his City. He came from one of the most distinguished noble families, which traced its origins back to the beginning of Rome. The article deals with one of the episodes of Pictor’s biography – his visit to Delphi in 216 B.C. after the defeat of the Romans at Cannae. The answerto the question of why the Senate entrusted this mission to Fabius Pictor lies in the outstanding position in the Senate of his cousin Quintus Fabius Maximus (Cunctator). Holding a leading position in the military-political and religious spheres of life in the Roman Republic, he convinced the Senate of the reliability of his relative’s candidacy to carry out the highly sensitive task. Fabius Pictor was a convenient figure: he was guided by his ancestors diplomatic and religious experience, but at the same time was unknown outside Rome unlike his kinsman and contemporary – Verucius Cunctator. Pictor’s visit to Delphi was not an official diplomatic mission; the Senate just charged him with a private assignment. At the same time, acquaintance with the cult of Apollo at Delphi influenced the historian’s conception of the distant past of Rome, which he reflected in his work. Since then the canonic version of the earliest Roman history with the rule of seven kings takes the beginning.
About the Author
O. V. Sidorovich
Russian State
University for the Humanities
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Olga V. Sidorovich, Dr. of Sci. (History), associate professor
6-6, Miusskaya Sq., Moscow, 125047
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Review
For citations:
Sidorovich O.V. Fabius Pictor and Delphi. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin Series "Political Science. History. International Relations". 2025;(5):113-129. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6339-2025-5-113-129
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