Celebrating (the End) of the First Punic War: The Watery Element, in Sara Borrello, Valeria Dieci, Laura Fontana (eds.), CEREMONIES OVER THE ROMAN REPUBLIC: EXPLORING THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE (509-27 BCE)

This paper focuses specifically, but not exclusively, on two aspects of the First Punic War, namely the appearance of the naval triumph and the closing of the Temple of Janus. Both celebrations were associated with the end of the war, but one as a traditional celebration of victory, the other as what appears to be an index of war AND peace. What are the implications, the interaction of the two celebrations and their exact meaning? What do the celebrations ultimately tell us about Rome and its relationship with the sea and the people involved in naval victories? Is it possible to shed more light on whether the closing of the Temple of Janus took place in 241 BCE (A. Manlius, cos.) or 235 BCE (T. Manlius Torquatus, cos.) as mentioned by Varro (LL 5.165), and what role did Gaius Duilius and his celebrations and/or honours play in this development?