L. Marcio Settimo e la sua funzione nell’annalistica romana

This paper analyses of L. Marcius Septimus, a key mythistorical figure that appeared during the Hispanic Campaign of the Second Punic War, when he revived the fortunes of the Roman army after the death of the two Scipios through a prodigy. After presenting the most important sources and delineating the religious background, I dwell on the regal character of the prodigy and on the annalistic construction of the figure himself. The purpose is trying to show the interconnection between public and private, juridical and religious legitimation that can be grasped behind the figure of L. Marcius.