History and legend in Livy’s Book I. Whereas the Livian foreword draws the reader’s attention to the fragility of the historical basis of the period concerning the Roman foundation, Book I contains nonetheless some narrative close-ups on legendary episodes such as Æneas’ installation in Latium and the sacrifice offered to Hercules by Romulus on the Ara Maxima, with a flash-back on Evander’s reign. The scope of this study is to try to explain this paradox. Thence, it appears that the close-ups on these episodes aim at indicating to the reader the existence of analogical ties between the characters, the politics described in the legendary legends, and those of the period contemporary to Livy.Alors que la préface livienne attire l'attention du...