Publius at Naupaktos: The First Macedonian War and Phlegon of Tralles’ anti-Roman Prophecies in De Mirabilia 3

Abstract

Summary A brief state of the art for Phlegon of Tralles’ De Mirabilia 3 anti-Roman prophecies is followed by a reassessment of four of its components: the historical identification of the Roman protagonist “Publius”, Naupaktos as the main stage for the prophecies, the multiple meanings of the Red Wolf as well as the Oak Tree, and the Roman military retreat. By analyzing these specific elements, it will be argued that these presages were not only associated with events during the Antiochean and Mithridatic Wars, but were also related with historical experiences from the First Macedonian Conflict.