Lentzsch:Roma victa

"Roma Victa" by Simon Lentzsch offers an in-depth analysis of Roman history, particularly how Roman society dealt with defeats. While the military successes of the Roman Republic often take center stage, this work highlights the less noticed but equally important aspects of Roman defeats against the Celts, Samnites, and Carthaginians. Lentzsch examines how these defeats were interpreted and explained in the historical culture of the Republic and the early Imperial period. Through the analysis of texts, monuments, and rituals, the book demonstrates how the Romans developed a specific culture to cope with their failures and how they assigned a place to these events in their history. This study is significant not only for history enthusiasts but also provides valuable insights into Roman identity and the self-understanding of the Roman elite.