civil wars in Rome

The authors analyze Ugo Laffi’s and Francois Hinard’s conception of the “myth of Sulla” and its critics by Alexandra Eckert. Laffi attributes the ap­pea­rance of Sulla’s image as the cruel tyrant (i.e. of the “myth of Sulla”) to Caesar’s dictatorship, while in Hinard’s opinion it happened later, during Augustan princi­pate. However, Eckert argues that Sulla had the reputation of a cruel tyrant even in his lifetime. The authors agree with Eckert, but make important corrections and additions to her argumentation.

The article is devoted to the question whether a wave of uncontrol­led murders preceded and caused Sullan proscriptions. In modern scholarship these proscriptions are often considered as an instrument that should have cur­bed the bloody chaos, though some authors believe this plan failed.