This Latin expression is still in use today as a warning of imminent danger from a person or object from whom something unpleasant is expected. The translation means "Hannibal in front of the gates." The Latin expression refers to an uttering by Cicero (106-43 BC) in one of his philippic* speeches where he mentions Hannibal ad portas. It can also be found in writings by the historian Livius. It refers to a threatening situation in the second Punic war (2l8-201 BC) when the Carthaginian general Hannibal managed to march on Rom after he conquered almost all of Lower Italy. Still today variations of this saying are often used. Well known among others is "Pappa ante portas," the title of a movie by Loriot
*philippic 1592, "bitter invective discourse," from M.Fr. philippique, from L. orationes Philippic, translation of Gk. Philippiko logo. The L. phrase was used of the speeches made by Cicero against Marc Antony in 44 and 43 B.C.E.; originally of speeches made in Athens by Demosthenes in 351-341 B.C.E. urging Greeks to unite and fight the rising power of Philip II of Macedon.
Translated from the German into English by Hella
Iulius Caesar 100-44
C. Iulius Caesar, natus anno 100, sex post Ciceronem annis, primum stipendium meruit in Asia anno 81 sub M. Minucio Thermo praetore. quaestor fuit anno 69, aedilis 65, pontifex maximus 63, praetor 62, consul 59, 48, 46, 45, 44, dictator 49, 48/47, 46-44, dictator perpetuus 44. interfectus est Idibus Martiis anno 44 in curia Pompeia Romae.
M. Tullius Cicero 106-43 aM. Tullius Cicero, philosophus, orator, consul, natus Arpini anno 106 ante Christum natum, Antonii iussu occisus est anno 43. Romae in rostris caput mortui positum est.
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