Plut. Gai. Gracch. and Dionys. Hal. AR. VIII: a new light on the grain dole and the participation of socii in lex agraria sempronia, the issue revisited

ΣΧΟΛΗ. Ancient Philosophy and the Classical Tradition. 2025. Vol. 19. No. 1. P. 170–184.

Telminov V.

This article examines the parallels between the reforms of Gaius Gracchus and the actions of Spurius Cassius as described by Dionysius of Halicarnassus, shedding new light on the interpretation of grain dole, land allotments and the role of Italian allies in the Lex Agraria Sempronia. The narrative of Spurius Cassius appears heavily anachronistic, reflecting the conflicts of Gaius Gracchus’s era rather than those of the early Republic. Through a detailed analysis of the biographical structure of Plutarch’s parallel lives of Gaius Gracchus and Cleomenes, the article explores the moral and political frameworks imposed by these authors. These comparisons reveal indirect evidence suggesting that Gaius Gracchus may have included Italian allies in his land reforms, a hypothesis that contrasts with traditional interpretations of his legislation. By comparing literary and rhetorical strategies, the study highlights how Dionysius and Plutarch utilized historical figures to reflect broader political and moral debates. Upon examining these texts, the study contributes to a re-evaluation of Gracchus’s agrarian reforms and their implications for Roman-Italian relations during the late Republic.

Keywords: Plutarch, agrarian reforms, Roman republic, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, PUBLIC LAND, AGRARIAN REFORM OF GAIUS GRACCHUS, LATE ROMAN REPUBLIC, Italian allies, Roman-Italian relations, Spurius Cassius

Publication based on the results of: From Antiquity to Modernity: epistemology and conceptualization of the development of the material and spiritual cultures of the East (2024)