The historiographical tradition originated with Polybius about the political career of Scipio Aemilianus (185-129 B.C.) presented it as marked by the creation of institutional precedents through successive acts of concentration of power and of military violence. Until today, most historians have interpreted this tradition as being favorable to the image of the Roman commander, despite A. Momigliano's reservations. Considering these reservations, some key moments in that tradition (Scipio's reaching of two consulships and the annihilation of Carthage and Numantia) present also a critical bias, particularly because of the contrast between the topic images both of the learned man open to Hellenism and of the competent but truculent commander.
Scipio Aemilianus; Carthage; Numantia; Hellenism; violence.