01-19-2009, 09:57 PM
Your suspicions are well founded.The 'legend' of Regulus' heroism is just that. It likely originated as a 'family tradition'.High ranking officers were frequently exchanged between Rome and Carthage, or ransomed, but Regulus seems to have died in captivity in somewhat mysterious circumstances (probably of disease) and it has been suggested that the story was a family cover-up to exonerate Regulus' widow, who on hearing of her husband's death, and believing it to be from neglect, apparently had two Carthaginian prisoners in the custody of the family tortured to death in revenge ( c.f. Diodorus XXIII.16 for a story of Regulus tortured and killed;XXIV.12 for the widow's revenge)
The 'legend' version is recorded by Later poets (Horace Odes 3.5, and Regulus' heroism is praised in Silius Italicus Punic War lengthy poem).
Another Roman tradition also has it that Xanthippus the Spartan mercenary who was the architect of the Punic victory, suffered drowning or attempted drowning on his way home. Polybius (XXXVI.2-3) has him return home, but knew of 'another story', likely the 'drowning' version.( referred to in Diodorus XXIII.16; Zonaras VIII.13: and Silius Italicus' poem, as well as other later writers).
The book of Daniel (XI,7-9) records PtolemyIII of Egypt appointing a 'Xanthippus' as governor of a newly won province some ten years later, and it would be nice to think this was the same man........
D
The 'legend' version is recorded by Later poets (Horace Odes 3.5, and Regulus' heroism is praised in Silius Italicus Punic War lengthy poem).
Another Roman tradition also has it that Xanthippus the Spartan mercenary who was the architect of the Punic victory, suffered drowning or attempted drowning on his way home. Polybius (XXXVI.2-3) has him return home, but knew of 'another story', likely the 'drowning' version.( referred to in Diodorus XXIII.16; Zonaras VIII.13: and Silius Italicus' poem, as well as other later writers).
The book of Daniel (XI,7-9) records PtolemyIII of Egypt appointing a 'Xanthippus' as governor of a newly won province some ten years later, and it would be nice to think this was the same man........
D
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
