Quintus Fabius Pictor

Quintus Fabius Pictor
Bornc. 270 BC
Diedc. 200 BC
NationalityRoman
OccupationHistorian
Notable workAnnales Graeci
FatherGaius Fabius Pictor
Familygens Fabia

Quintus Fabius Pictor (born c. 270 BC, fl. c. 215–200 BC) was the earliest known Roman historian.[1][2] His history, written in Greek and now mostly lost besides some surviving fragments, was highly influential on ancient writers and certainly participated in introducing Greek historiographical methods to the Roman world. However, the work was highly partisan towards Rome, blaming the Second Punic War (218–201 BC) on Carthage and idealizing the Roman Republic as a well-ordered state loyal to its allies. Fabius probably served as praetor, was a member of the Senate, and participated in a delegation sent to the oracle at Delphi in 216 BC. Some scholars consider him one of the earliest annalists,[3] although this conclusion has been criticized.[4]

  1. ^ Momigliano 1990, p. 90.
  2. ^ Beck 2010, pp. 259–260.
  3. ^ Frier 1999, p. 201.
  4. ^ Beck 2012: "Cicero, in a famous verdict on the beginnings of Roman historiography, claims that Pictor’s books were “nothing more than a compilation of yearly chronicles,” unadorned in their style and without interpretative skills (De or. 2.51–3). This, along with Cicero’s proclaimed connection between Fabius’ work and the so-called ANNALES MAXIMI, has led scholars to label early Roman historiography as “annalistic.” A glance at the surviving fragments, however, makes it plain that the conceptual assumptions of this model (lack of style, a mere compilation of people, places and prodigies) are not accurate."