what did hamilcar barca make his younger son hannibal do

According to Polybius and Livy, Hannibal’s father Hamilcar Barca made the 9-year-old Hannibal dip his hand in blood and swear an oath of hatred against Rome. What did hamilcar make his son do? In 237 BCE

Hamilcar had famously taken his son, then nine years old, to the temple of Baal in Carthage and made him swear never to be a friend of Rome.

Full Answer

What did Hannibal do to Hamilcar?

Some of Hamilcar’s anger at Rome was transferred to his son Hannibal, who—according to Polybius and Livy —swore eternal enmity against Rome. Hamilcar’s victory over the mercenaries in 237 contributed to his growing political power in Carthage and led him to pursue territory in Spain as compensation for the losses to Rome.

Who was Hamilcar Barca?

... (Show more) Hamilcar Barca, Barca also spelled Barcas, (died winter 229/228 bce ), general who assumed command of the Carthaginian forces in Sicily during the last years of the First Punic War with Rome (264–241 bce ). Until the rise to power of his son Hannibal, Hamilcar was the finest commander and statesman that Carthage had produced.

What kind of person was Hannibal Barca?

This combination of traits made him one of the most dynamic and effective people in the ancient world.Hannibal’s father, Hamilcar Barca was, arguably, the best general the Carthaginians fielded in the First Punic War. He fought in Sicily and never lost a battle. He was not pleased when Carthage made What kind of person was Hannibal Barca?

How was Hamilcar different from other Carthaginians?

Hamilcar stood out far above the Carthaginians of his age in military and diplomatic skill and in strength of patriotism; in these qualities he was surpassed only by his son Hannibal, whom he may have imbued with his own deep suspicion of Rome and trained to be his successor in the conflict.

What was the oath that hamilcar had his son Hannibal swear?

According to Livy (Ab Urbe Condita), the boy Hannibal was eager to join his father, Hamilcar Barca, on his campaign in Spain in 237 BC; Hamilcar refused but made his son swear that as soon as he could he would become the enemy of Rome.

What did Hannibal do?

Hannibal is most famous for what he did in the Second Punic War. He marched an army from Iberia over the Pyrenees mountains and the Alps mountains into northern Italy and defeated the Romans in a series of battles. At the Battle of Cannae, he defeated the largest army Rome had ever put together.

What has made the Second Punic War a success for Hannibal?

Hannibal's losses in the Second Punic War effectively put an end to Carthage's empire in the western Mediterranean, leaving Rome in control of Spain and allowing Carthage to retain only its territory in North Africa. Carthage was also forced to give up its fleet and pay a large indemnity in silver to Rome.

What is Hannibal Barca known for?

Hannibal (also known as Hannibal Barca, l. 247-183 BCE) was a Carthaginian general during the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome (218-202 BCE). He is considered one of the greatest generals of antiquity and his tactics are still studied and used in the present day.

Are Hannibal and will in love?

References. ↑ Interview with Fuller: "Hannibal absolutely is in love with Will Graham, because he represents humanity in a way that transcends sexuality”.

Is Hannibal based on a true story?

Hannibal Lecter is a fictional character created by the novelist Thomas Harris. Lecter is a serial killer who eats his victims. Before his capture, he was a respected forensic psychiatrist; after his incarceration, he is consulted by FBI agents Will Graham and Clarice Starling to help them find other serial killers.

What would happen if Hannibal won?

If Hannibal had destroyed Rome, the rest of Italy would have prospered without harsh rule, military conscriptions, and heavy taxes. In the wider Mediterranean, the Hellenistic revolution begun by Alexander the Great would have continued even without Rome.

How did Hannibal lose?

Hannibal's forces were defeated on the field at the Battle of Zama by Scipio's brilliant manipulation of the Carthaginian's own tactics but the groundwork for this defeat was laid throughout the Second Punic War through the Carthaginian government's refusal to support their general and his troops on campaign in Italy.

Did Hannibal win the Second Punic War?

Scipio invaded Carthaginian Africa in 204 BC, compelling the Carthaginian Senate to recall Hannibal's army from Italy. The final engagement of the war took place between armies under Scipio and Hannibal at Zama in 202 and resulted in Hannibal's defeat and in Carthage suing for peace.

Why was Hannibal so successful?

Hannibal took advantage of the fact that Rome was used to fighting a certain type of battle. By changing the tactics he confused his opponent and could take advantage of the ensuing chaos. As at Trasimene, Hannibal's relentlessness won the day.

What language did Hannibal speak?

The Punic language, also called Phoenicio-Punic or Carthaginian, is an extinct variety of the Phoenician language, a Canaanite language of the Northwest Semitic branch of the Semitic languages.

What does the name Hannibal mean?

Baal is GraciousHannibal is a latinization (Greek: Ἀννίβας, Hanníbas) of the Carthaginian masculine given name ḤNBʿL (Punic: 𐤇‬𐤍𐤁‬𐤏‬𐤋‬), meaning "Baal is Gracious".

What did Hannibal Lecter do to his victims?

Not much is known about most of his other victims in this series or how they were killed. They can be presumed to have been mutilated and in most cases, eaten. Lecter likely killed them for discourtesy, as he preferred to “eat the rude”. Will Graham described Lecter's actions as "hideous".

Why did Hannibal cut his hand off?

Film Ending The film adaptation of Hannibal does not feature the brainwashing storyline; instead, Starling handcuffs herself to Lecter to try and trap him, with Lecter cutting off his own hand to escape the handcuffs rather than harm her and Starling reaffirming her loyalty to the FBI.

Why was Hannibal so successful?

Hannibal took advantage of the fact that Rome was used to fighting a certain type of battle. By changing the tactics he confused his opponent and could take advantage of the ensuing chaos. As at Trasimene, Hannibal's relentlessness won the day.

Why did Hannibal invade Rome?

Hannibal's strategic objective was to demoralize Rome's Italian allies and cause them to defect. And some did in southern Italy, where Hannibal and his army held out for more than a dozen years. But in the end, Hannibal was forced to abandon Italy by a general as bold as he was: Publius Cornelius Scipio.

Why was Hamilcar Barca important to the Carthaginian leaders?

Hamilcar Barca was blamed by the Carthaginian Leaders for causing the Mercenary War by making unrealistic promises to his soldiers , especially the Celts, during his command in Sicily. This event may have taken place as early as 241 BC or more likely in 237 BC. The influence Hamilcar enjoyed among the people and the opposition party enabled him to avoid standing trial. Furthermore, Hamilcar allied with Hasdrubal the Fair, his future son in law, to restrict the power of the aristocracy, which was led by Hanno the Great, as well as gain immunity from prosecution. Hamilcar's faction gained enough clout, if not supreme power in Carthage, for Hamilcar to implement his next agenda. Hamilcar's first priority, probably, was to ensure that the war indemnity was paid regularly so the Romans had no excuse to interfere in Carthaginian affairs. His second was to implement his strategy for preparing Carthage for any future conflict with Rome, or enable Carthage to defend itself against any aggression.

Why did the rebels fear mass desertions?

Rebel leaders feared mass desertions might result because of Hamilcar's policy towards prisoners. To forestall any such event, rebels committed an act of cruelty unpardonable by Carthage. Autaritus spread the rumor that Carthaginian prisoners led by Gisco were plotting to escape. Rebels opposing this were stoned and Gisco and his fellow prisoners were tortured to death. Autaritus announced that he would do the same with all Punic prisoners that fell into rebel hands in future. Hamilcar killed his prisoners and announced a policy of equal measure toward future rebel prisoners, thus ending any chance of desertion from the rebel army and the truceless war began in earnest.

What were the conditions of the Treaty of Rome?

This treaty replaced all previous treaties between the two powers. The initial conditions laid out by Lutatius to Gisco were: 1 The Carthaginians will evacuate all Sicily. 2 Carthage should not make war on Syracuse and their allies. 3 Carthage would pay Rome 2,200 Euboean silver talents (56 tons) over a 20-year period as reparations. 4 The Carthaginian army would surrender their weapons and all Roman deserters immediately.

Why did Carthage put most of its ships into reserve?

As a result, Hamilcar was given a fairly small army and the Carthaginian fleet was gradually withdrawn and Carthage put most of its ships into reserve to save money and free up manpower, so by 242 BC, Carthage had no ships to speak of in Sicily.

How many elephants did the Carthaginian army have?

The Carthaginian government then raised an army of 10,000 soldiers and 70 elephants and put Hamilcar Barca in command. This army was small for leading a sortie against the stronger rebel forces, especially to lead into a pitched battle.

How many children did Hamilcar have?

Hamilcar had at least three daughters and at least three sons.

What does Hamilcar mean?

Hamilcar is the latinization of Hamílkas ( Greek: Ἁμίλκας ), the hellenized form of the common Semitic Phoenician-Carthaginian masculine given name ḤMLK ( Punic: 𐤇𐤌𐤋𐤊) or ḤMLQRT ( 𐤇𐤌𐤋𐤒𐤓𐤕 ), meaning " Melqart 's brother".

What was Carthage allowed to do during the Second Punic War?

In the peace agreement that ended the Second Punic War, Carthage was allowed to keep only its territory in North Africa but lost its overseas empire permanently. It was also forced to surrender its fleet and pay a large indemnity in silver, and to agree never again to re-arm or declare war without permission from Rome. Hannibal, who escaped with his life from the crushing defeat at Zama and still harbored a desire to defeat Rome, retained his military title despite accusations that he had botched the conduct of the war. In addition, he was made a civil magistrate in the government of Carthage.

How old was Hannibal when he dipped his hand in blood?

Did you know? According to Polybius and Livy, Hannibal's father Hamilcar Barca made the 9-year-old Hannibal dip his hand in blood and swear an oath of hatred against Rome.

Why did Hannibal leave the Romans?

According to Livy, Hannibal fled to the Syrian court at Ephesus after his opponents within the Carthaginian nobility denounced him to the Romans for encouraging Antiochus III of Syria to take up arms against Rome.

What river was the northernmost border of Carthage?

According to the treaty that ended the First Punic War, the Ebro River was the northernmost border of Carthage’s influence in Spain; though Saguntum was south of the Ebro, it was allied with Rome, which saw Hannibal’s attack as an act of war. Carthaginian forces besieged Saguntum for eight months before the city fell.

What was Hannibal's postwar life?

Hannibal’s Postwar Life and Death. In 219 B.C., Hannibal of Carthage led an attack on Saguntum, an independent city allied with Rome, which sparked the outbreak of the Second Punic War. He then marched his massive army across the Pyrenees and Alps into central Italy in what would be remembered as one of the most famous campaigns in history.

What was Hannibal's army?

Leaving his brother, also named Hasdrubal, to protect Carthage’s interests in Spain and North Africa, Hannibal assembled a massive army, including (according to Polybius’ probably exaggerated figures) as many as 90,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry and nearly 40 elephants. The march that followed–which covered some 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) through the Pyrenees, across the Rhone River and the snowcapped Alps, and finally into central Italy–would be remembered as one of the most famous campaigns in history. With his forces depleted by the harsh Alpine crossing, Hannibal met the powerful army of the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio on the plains west of the Ticino River. Hannibal’s cavalry prevailed, and Scipio was seriously wounded in the battle.

What was the Roman defeat at Cannae?

The Roman defeat at Cannae stunned much of southern Italy, and many of Rome’s allies and colonies defected to the Carthaginian side. Under the leadership of Scipio’s son-in-law, also named Publius Cornelius Scipio, and his fellow general Quintus Fabius Maximus, the Romans soon began to rally. In southern Italy, Fabius used cautious tactics to gradually push back against Hannibal’s forces, and had regained a considerable amount of ground by 209 B.C. In northern Italy in 208 B.C., Roman forces defeated an army of reinforcements led by Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal, who had crossed the Alps in an attempt to come to Hannibal’s aid.

What happened to the Carthaginians in 241 B.C.?

It was supposed to unload supplies here, take on board the most combat-ready units led by Hamilcar and give the Romans a battle at sea. But the enemy blocked this squadron from the Aegates Islands. In the ensuing battle, the Carthaginians were utterly defeated, so that the Sicilian army was cut off from their homeland. Hamilcar received emergency powers and in this situation was forced to begin peace negotiations. He proved himself to be a capable diplomat, forcing the Romans to abandon the difficult and humiliating conditions of his surrender by the army of all weapons and the passage of soldiers under the yoke. The peace treaty provided for the departure of the Carthaginians from Sicily, the release of all prisoners without redemption and the payment of indemnity; its conditions seemed so mild to the Roman People’s Assembly that it refused to ratify the treaty and sent a special commission to Sicily to investigate, but it only made minor changes. After the ratification of the world, Hamilcar took the troops to Lilibey and withdrew the title of commander-in-chief. He accepted the need to surrender to the enemy because of others’ defeats “with indignation and sorrow”.

What was Hamilcar's goal?

Probably his goal was to demonstrate to Rome the power of the Carthaginian fleet, divert some of the enemy forces from Sicily and capture the prisoners for exchange; the exchange really took place in the same year. Then Hamilcar focused all his efforts on the Sicilian theater of operations. He entrenched himself in the camp at Mount Ayrkte at Panormus; hence he continued to raid Roman territory, and when the Roman army camped in front of Panormus, Hamilcar began a positional war that lasted for three years. Polybius mentions “land-based battles are frequent and diverse,” referring to the impossibility of their detailed description.

What was the only significant event of the Carthaginians of Eriks?

The only significant event of these years was the capture of the Carthaginians of Eriks, after which they were able to besiege the Roman camp on the top of the mountain of the same name. But this siege was unsuccessful. On the whole, Hamilcar failed to deliver a decisive blow to the Roman army, effectively waging a war of attrition; however, there is an opinion that Hamilcar was linked by its Sicilian base and gradually lost the initiative.

What did Hamilcar promise his soldiers?

After the uprising was suppressed, Hamilcar’s enemies brought him to court: according to some information, he promised great gifts to his soldiers during the First Punic War , becoming such an unwitting culprit in their insurrection, according to others – his command in Sicily was considered unsatisfactory. But Hamilcar earned his victories over mercenaries popularity among broad layers of citizens and was able to conclude an alliance with a number of high-ranking officials, among whom sources call Hasdrubal, “the most able to seek the disposition of the people”.

Who was the commander of the Carthaginian fleet?

Hamilcar was appointed commander of the Carthaginian fleet in 247 B.C. At this point, the conflict with Rome, which had lasted for 17 years, reached an impasse: Carthage was defeated on land and lost almost all of its possessions in Sicily, but the Romans were forced to abandon naval war due to a series of catastrophes associated with storms, and therefore could not take Lilibey and Drepan and deliver a decisive blow to the enemy.

Who was Hamilcar's father?

Nothing is known about his parents; there is only an assumption that Hamilcar, the eldest of his sons, named Hannibal in honor of his father. Hamilcar is first mentioned in sources under 247 B.C. as a very young man.

Who was the main opponent of Hamilcar?

His culprit was largely the main political opponent of Hamilcar – Gannon. The soldiers of the Sicilian army who were demanding their salaries rejected Hamilcar as an intermediary, believing that he had betrayed their interests, giving up command and then revolted, supported by many cities in Libya.

What was the most successful ambush of the Roman army?

In spring 217 BCE, Hannibal again surprised the Romans, who blocked two of the main routes through the Apennines leading south. Instead, Hannibal led his army through the Arno Valley, a marshland traditionally considered impassable. The march was not without a loss. Many soldiers drowned in the marshes or died of infection, and Hannibal himself lost sight in one eye. At the shores of Lake Trasimene, Hannibal Barca annihilated the pursuing Roman army in what is considered the largest and most successful ambush in military history. More than 15,000 Romans were killed, and 15,000 were taken prisoner. The road to Rome was now open.

What did Hannibal's father do in Carthage?

When Hannibal’s father, Hamilcar Barca, was preparing to leave for Spain, he took his nine-year-old son to a temple in Carthage and had him swear an oath of eternal hostility towards Rome. This famous episode perfectly reflects Hannibal’s character, and his lifelong mission: to defeat and humiliate the upstart Republic and restore Carthage to greatness. But we should not forget that this story was recorded by the winning side. There are no surviving Carthaginian sources. Polybius, the Greek historian who chronicled Hannibal’s life and his role in the war, was, after all, in the service of Rome.

How did Hannibal defeat the Romans?

For nearly two decades, Hannibal fought the Romans. He invaded Italy and forced Rome to battle for its very survival. Every army sent against him perished, with Hannibal employing a set of stratagems and tactics to outmaneuver and defeat his superior foe. However, without the necessary support from Carthage, and with Rome borrowing his tactics in Spain and North Africa, Hannibal was ultimately defeated. Forced to flee from the Romans, Hannibal spent his last years at the various courts of the Hellenistic kings. In death, he outmaneuvered his foes once again, by taking poison before the Romans could catch their worst nightmare.

What happened to the Roman army when Hannibal advanced?

When the Romans advanced, the center of Hannibal’s infantry withdrew, while the flanks held firm. Slowly, Hannibal’s line took on a crescent shape, drawing more and more legionaries to attack the center. What the Romans did not realize, however, was that they were being lured into a trap. Tens of thousands of the Roman soldiers found themselves encircled by the enemy. The already tight formation became even tighter, to the point that many Romans were unable to swing their swords. The Carthaginian cavalry delivered the last blow. Having chased away the Roman horsemen from the battlefield, it returned and charged at the Roman rear. The Roman soldiers at the front hardly realized their perilous position. And then it was too late. By the time darkness fell, there was nothing left of the Roman army. It had been utterly annihilated.

What was the significance of the Battle of Trebia?

Many Romans were killed fleeing for their lives, and more drowned in the icy river. It is believed that the Roman army suffered 20,000 to 30,000 casualties, compared to a few thousand on Hannibal’s side. The Battle of Trebia was a resounding success for Hannibal, as news of his victory spread quickly among the local tribes, who joined Hannibal’s cause. A new victory soon followed.

What was the significance of Hannibal's victory at Cannae?

The victory at Cannae was the high watermark of Hannibal’s campaign in Italy and the apex of his military career . It was also the beginning of his troubles. Rome was utterly defeated, its powerful army was gone, and most of the high-ranking commanders perished in two years of successive defeats. The core of the Republic, the Apennine peninsula, was devastated, and fell largely out of Roman control. But the Republic was resilient. When Hannibal offered to negotiate peace terms, the Senate refused. It was a risky move. After Cannae, Rome was in full panic. Hannibal ante portas (Hannibal is at the gates) was a byword of the day. Fortifications were hurriedly repaired, while sentries observed the horizon, expecting the arrival of a huge enemy host.

When did Hamilcar leave Carthage?

Hamilcar left on this mission in 237 BCE, accompanied by his young son. Many years would pass before Hannibal would see his home city again. For nine years Hamilcar campaigned in Iberia, expanding Carthage’s reach deep into the peninsula. Hannibal’s childhood was spent in a military camp, and by the age of 18, the youth already commanded the troops. The death of his father in 228 BCE and his brother seven years later, left Hannibal in command of all the Carthaginian forces in the Iberian Peninsula. He was only 26.

Is Barcelona named after Hamilcar Barca?

Some sources say that the city may have been named after the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca, who was supposed to have founded the city in the 3rd century BC.The city is also referred to as the Ciutat Comtal in Catalan, and Ciudad Condal in Spanish, owing to its past as the seat of the Count of Barcelona.

Did Hannibal find Barcelona?

At least two founding myths have been proposed for Barcelona by historians since the 15th century. One credits the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal, with the foundation of the city around 230 BC, giving it the name Barkenon.

What did Hamilcar Barca make his younger son Hannibal do?

According to Polybius and Livy, Hannibal’s father Hamilcar Barca made the 9-year-old Hannibal dip his hand in blood and swear an oath of hatred against Rome.

Who was Barcelona founded by?

On the 29th of November 1899, Joan Gamper founded the Football Club Barcelona ( Barça).

Has Spain ever been invaded?

Spain has been invaded and inhabited by many different peoples. The peninsula was originally settled by groups from North Africa and western Europe, including the Iberians, Celts, and Basques. Throughout antiquity it was a constant point of attraction for the civilizations of the eastern Mediterranean.

Why is Barcelona called Barcelona?

According to tradition, Barcelona was founded by either the Phoenicians or the Carthaginians, who had trading posts along the Catalonian coast. It is no longer thought, however, that the city owes its name to the family of the Carthaginian leader Hamilcar Barca.

Is Barcelona older than Rome?

It’s said that Barcelona is even older than Rome Barcelona’s perfect location on the Mediterranean makes it an ideal place for settlers.The first is that the mythological Hercules founded the city; the second is that Hamilcar Barca, a historic general, named the city Barcino after his family in 3rd century BC.

What was the second Punic War?

The Second Punic War seemed a close match, but in fact was lopsided from the beginning, and not in favor of Carthage as it appeared to most. It just took a long while for anyone to realize that. In this one the Carthaginians sought to take the battle to Rome by invading the Italian peninsula in force. Tactically this was a huge blow to Roman power, as the Carthaginian armies which came swooping south from the Alps could not be stopped in the field by the amateur citizen soldier armies of Rome. It was also, however, a colossal strategic blunder on the part of Carthage. While the Romans could not meet them head to head to defeat their great army, the Carthaginians could only maintain this near invincibility while their forces were concentrated together. This meant that every time they tried to garrison ports and other key logistical points, the Romans would simply wait until Carthage next tried to take the offensive, then retake whatever the Carthaginians left insufficiently protected. They harried the Carthaginian army this way for years, never allowing them to maintain secure supply lines, and also never letting them gain simultaneous control of more than a few important locations at once, while simultaneously refusing to meet their main force for any more doomed, decisive actions.

Why did Hannibal invade Spain?

So Hasdrubal in preparation invades and siezes most of Spain, including incredibly wealthy mines and land which makes him mega rich. The Carthaginian ruling class let it happen because they want the money, but didn't anticipate how much the Barca's would gain, both financially and militarily. From this point on the “Carthaginian” invasion of Rome is pretty much the Barca clan going rogue, they didn't really have the support, but the Carthaginians could really touch him in Spain, and they couldn't stop him because publicly he was generating enormous wealth for Carthage right when it needed it. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, Hannibal specifically didn't go back to Carthage before setting out for Italy because he feared he'd be stopped, and he sent a large portion of his best troops back to Carthage to “garrison” it against Rome, but it was really just to stop the elites in Carthage from totally taking power.

Why were Romans more patriotic than Carthaginians?

2). Romans were more patriotic than Carthaginians. Romans of all walks of life were dedicated to Roman victory. When Rome lost yet another fleet to bad weather (and probably the destabilizing effect of the corvus on their ships) and the treasury was empty, rich Romans pitched in and raised a private fleet to continue the war. When Carthage faced a naval wipe out not long after, no such private navy was raised to continue the fighting. This induced a Carthaginian surrender to end the First Punic War.

How long did Hamilcar stay in Spain?

For eight years, he secured large territories in Spain with weapons and diplomacy, but his untimely death prevented him from completing the conquests. Hamilcar was far above everyone in Carthage both militarily and diplomatically and in terms of patriotism. In this he was surpassed only by his son Hannibal, whom he instilled with hatred for Rome and trained him to become his successor.

Why did the Carthaginians nominate a new commander?

The Carthaginians appointed a new commander because of Hannon's inability to lead Hamilcar's army. He had at his disposal 70 elephants and 10,000 mercenaries with whom he set out on expeditions.

What did Hannibal expect from the Romans?

3). The Romans were simply relentless. Hannibal had expected, much like Pyrrhus decades earlier, that after a great victory or two, the Romans would come to terms, which was the standard in most of the world. The Romans refused, even after the disaster of Cannae, to even speak with Hannibal's peace delegation. You could knock the Romans down on the canvas as many times as you like, but they would always get back up. Beating Rome would have meant total destruction of the city. The Carthaginians, in -241 and -201 were more interested in peace after key losses.

Which country won the first Punic War?

Sicily. In this conflict Rome won the victory mainly via two factors. First, they simply outlasted Carthage. That is to say Rome was in better position to kee

What kind of person was Hannibal Barca?

What kind of person was Hannibal Barca?Hannibal Barca was highly intelligent, highly charismatic, very determined, could be charming when he wanted to, and was entirely ruthless. This combination of traits made him one of the most dynamic and effective people in the ancient world.Hannibal’s father, Hamilcar Barca was, arguably, the best general the Carthaginians fielded in the First Punic War. He fought in Sicily and never lost a battle. He was not pleased when Carthage made peace with Rome on Roman terms and he raised his three sons, Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago, to be enemies to Rome.

What did the veterans think of Hamilcar?

The veterans thought they saw Hamilcar restored to them as he was in his youth; they saw the same determined expression the same piercing eyes, the same cast of features. He soon showed, however, that it was not his father's memory that helped him most to win the affections of the army. [3] Never was there a character more capable of the two tasks so opposed to each other of commanding and obeying; you could not easily make out whether the army or its general were more attached to him. [4] Whenever courage and resolution were needed Hasdrubal never cared to entrust the command to any one else; and there was no leader in whom the soldiers placed more confidence or under whom they showed more daring. [5] He was fearless in exposing himself to danger and perfectly self-possessed in the presence of danger. No amount of exertion could cause him either bodily or mental fatigue; he was equally indifferent to heat and cold; his eating and drinking were measured by the needs of nature, not by appetite; [6] his hours of sleep were not determined by day or night, whatever time was not taken up with active duties [was given to sleep and rest, but that rest was not wooed on a soft couch or in silence, men often saw him lying on the ground amongst the sentinels and outposts, wrapped in his military cloak. His dress was in no way superior to that of his comrades; what did make him conspicuous were his arms and horses. [8] He was by far the foremost both of the cavalry and the infantry, the first to enter the fight and the last to leave the field. [9] But these great merits were matched by great vices-inhuman cruelty, a perfidy worse than Punic, an utter absence of truthfulness, reverence, fear of the gods, respect for oaths, sense of religion. Such was his character, a compound of virtues and vices. [10] For three years he served under Hasdrubal, and during the whole time he never lost an opportunity of gaining by practice or observation the experience necessary for one who was to be a great leader of men.”

What is the name of the first son of Livy?

If a son existed (and he may well have) then his name, in the Carthaginian tradition, would have been Hamilcar, as it was tradition to name a first son after his grandfather. Imilce (sometimes given as Imilcaea) existed according to Livy, and still has a statue at Baeza in Spain.

What happened to Hannibal's eye?

Whether while passing through the alps or slightly before Hannibal’s army marched through a bog or a swamp of some kind and many soldiers got sick, but Hannibal got a very nasty infection in his eye. There may have been a distant chance of saving the eye but an even more likely outcome was the eye simply rotting or even worse the infection in his eye spreading and rendering him blind or just flat out killing him. Hannibal decided he’d make the decision for himself and carved his eye out to spare himself the trouble.

What was Hannibal aware of in the winter?

However one thing Hannibal became very aware of was infection.

Where did the Phoenicians come from?

In ancient tradition, the Phoenicians migrated to the area from “the Red Sea”at some point in the distant past — but the one written account is confusing because the author sometimes uses “Red Sea” the way we do and sometimes uses it to mean what we’d call the Persian Gulf. Since Phoenician was a Northwest Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew, it’s more likely that the Red Sea in question is ours. In any case they would resemble modern Lebanese, Syrians, Palestinians and Sephardi Jews: modern genetic studies use haplogroup J2 as a proxy for this rough grouping. It shows a noticeable concentration in the eastern Mediterranean, but there are also strong traces in coastal North Africa where the old Carthaginian empire was centered.

What is the name of the bride in Punica?

Many years later, the poet Silius Italicus tells us a little more about the bride in his work Punica. She was called 'Imilce', a Greek name according to the poet (though hstorians think it is probably from a Punic name, related to the word “melek”, that means king).

Overview

Early life

Little is known about the origins or history of the Barca family prior to the Punic Wars. Quoting Tony Bath, "The Barca family, which originally came from Cyrene, was a powerful one but not at that time among the first families of Carthage". (The origins of Carthage go back to the city of Tabarka, present-day Tunisia). Unfortunately Tony Bath omits references. Lance Serge states that Hamilcar's family was part of the landed aristocracy of Carthage. Hamilcar was a young man of 2…

Name

Hamilcar in Sicily

Truceless War

Punic politics

Hamilcar supreme in Carthage

Barcid Spain