Livy and the Pax Deum
T he term pax deum is commonplace in modern scholarship but surprisingly rare in ancient literature. 1 Scholars identify it as the goal of all Roman religion, 2 and i would not dispute this. 3 it is remarkable, however, that no one has yet asked why, if the term has such a broad application, it should appear so seldom in our sources. 4 not surprisingly, Livy mentions the pax deum more than any other ancient author fifteen times in his extant narrative. 5 yet if we consider the vast amount of religious material in these thirty five books, and the importance that religion plays in the narrative, this number seems rather low. it may simply be a case of variatio: Livy is using different expressions to avoid monotony in his narrative. But a study of the passages in which the pax deum appears suggests something more. Livy mentions the term nine times in descriptions of prodigies (mostly plagues) twice in connection with specific battles, and four times in speeches. each of these passages, i will argue, shares something in common: they draw connections between ritual action and significant secular events. in some cases, Livy specifies the particular and life threatening reason for which the pax deum is sought a
Classical Philology