When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes ... Livy (and Polybius) on the Gallic Sack of Rome

This paper analyses a hitherto unrecognised Polybian dimension in Livy’s narrative of the Gallic Sack of Rome. An initial comparison of twelve motifs and themes with Polybius’ account of the capture of Phoenice demonstrates notable similarities in the narratives’ ‘building blocks’. The ensuing discussion of another shared element – that of the role of fortuna/tyche – challenges the seemingly natural interpretation of the presented overlaps as merely illustrating wider historiographic and narratological commonalities. Instead, it is argued that the best way to make sense of these overlaps is to regard them as evidence of the Livian engagement with Polybius’ account, designed to comment on the Greek’s broader take on Roman world rule, in which tyche plays a central role.