RELG 433 - The Biblical Archaeology
Carthaginian leaders
It is difficult to keep track of Carthaginian leaders and explorers, because several of them had the same names. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica there were about 20 Carthaginian generals or leaders who were named Hanno. There were even three men known as "Hanno the Great", and several Magos, Hannibals, Hamilcars, Hasdrubals, and Himilcos.
The name Barca is equivalent to the Hebrew name Barak, and means "thunderbolt" or "shining". It was the patronymic of a prominent Carthaginian family.
The name Bomilcar means "Servant of Melqart" of "In Melqart's Hand"
The name Hamilcar means "servant of Melqart" or "Melqart is gracious" - Melqart was the Phoenician/Carthaginian god.
The name Hanno was very common in Carthage, and probably means "gracious".
The name Hannibal is a combination of Hanno and Baal (the Canaanite/Phoenician deity, Lord of the Storm) and means "Baal is gracious" or "Baal has been gracious".
The name Hasdrubal means "Help of Baal"
The name Mago means "God-sent"
Hamilcar Barca (ca. 275-228 BC) became a general in the Carthaginian army in 247 BC, during the First Punic War. Hanno the Great was leading the Carthaginians in North Africa, and Hamilcar Barca was appointed to lead the fight in Sicily. Around 239 BC the Carthaginian army had to choose between Hanno the Great and Hamilcar Barca as Supreme Commander, and elected Hamilcar Barca to the position. He re-organized the Carthaginian forces in Sicily in 237 BC, but received no reinforcements from Carthage. He defeated a revolt by mercenary soldiers who had not been paid their wages, joined by and poverty-stricken peasants, in Carthage in 237 BC. In 236 BC he attacked southern Spain and recaptured the Spanish possessions that had been lost earlier. He was either killed in battle or drowned during a retreat, ca. 228 BC. Hamilcar Barca was the father of Hannibal Barca, Hasdrubal Barca, and Mago Barca, and at least three daughters. His oldest daughter married a Carthaginian leader named Bomilcar and had a son named Hanno, who served as a commander in the army of Hannibal Barca. His second daughter married Hasdrubal the Fair, who served as one of his commanders and who succeeded him as leader of the Carthaginian forces. His third daughter married a Numidian/Berber chief.
Hannibal Mago, (d. ca.405 BC), also known as Hannibal I, was the son of Gisco and the grandson of Hamilcar Mago (Hamilcar I or Mago I). He became Shofet (magistrate) of Carthage in 410 BC. He started the First Sicilian-Carthaginian War in 409 BC by leading a campaign in Sicily which was noted for its ferocity. An epidemic swept through his army and killed him and hundreds of his soldiers.
Hannibal Barca (247-ca.181 BC) was the oldest son of Hamilcar Barca. When his father died in 228 BC and his brother-in-law Hannibal the Fair became commander of the army, Hannibal Barca (then 18 years old) served as an officer in the army. He became leader of the Carthaginian forces on the assassination of Hasdrubal in 221 BC. Hannibal Barca's brother was Hasdrubal Barca. In 219 BC Hannibal Barca and Hasdrubal Barca conquered the Iberian peninsular as far as the Ebro River. Then Hannibal marched his army through what would become southern France, and crossed the Alps and entered Italy in 218 BC. At Tichinus he beat Cornelius Scipio, and at Trebia he beat Sempronius Longus. In 217 BC he beat Flaminius at Lake Trasimene, and in 216 BC he beat Terentius Varro at Cannae. However, he was unable to take Rome. Scipio and a Roman army invaded Africa and were victorious over Hasdrubal Gisco, and Mago was defeated in northern Italy when he tried to bring reinforcements to Hannibal, so Carthage and Rome signed a peace treaty and Hannibal returned to Carthage in 204 BC.
In 202 BC Carthage attacked Roman ships and the Punic Wars opened again. Hannibal was defeated at Zama and the Second Punic War ended in defeat for Carthage.
In 195 BC Hannibal became Suffete (ruler) of Carthage and instituted some reforms, but in 194 BC he had to flee from Carthage to escape his Roman enemies. He fled east to the court of Antiochus III and disappeared from history, probably committing suicide in 183 BC to escape being handed over to the Romans.
Hanno the Navigator (6th-5th century BC, dates uncertain) was related to Hamilcar I. The exact dates for Hanno the Navigator are disputed; he was probably either the son, or the father, of Hamilcar I.
ca. 410 BC Hanno the Navigator led an expedition into the Atlantic to explore the west coast of Africa. He reported seeing an active volcano, and recorded observations of gorillas. He founded Carthaginian settlements in Morocco, Mauretania, and Senegal.
Upon his return, Hanno dedicated an inscription in one of the Carthaginian temples, describing his adventures. This was translated into Greek and copied several times. Two very late copies of the Greek text exist.
Hasdrubal the Fair (ca.270-221 BC) was the son-in-law of Hamilcar Barca. He succeeded Hamilcar Barca as leader of the Carthaginian forces in 229 BC. In 228 BC Hasdrubal founded Cartagena (Carthago Nova) in Spain. He was assassinated by an Iberian (native of Hispania/Spain) in 221 BC and was succeeded by Hannibal Barca
Hasdrubal Barca (ca.244-207 BC) was a son of Hamilcar Barca, and younger brother of Hannibal Barca and Mago Barca. When Hannibal marched over the Alps to Italy in 218 BC in order to attack Rome, Hasdrubal remained in Spain to hold the Carthaginian bases there. He returned to Africa to fight off some of the Numidian tribes allied to Rome, and defeated the Scipio brothers at the Battle of the Upper Baetis in 211 BC. However, in 207 BC, when he tried to march to the help of his brother Hannibal, he himself was killed by the Romans at the battle at the Metaurus River in northern Italy. The Romans cut his head off, and threw it into the camp of Hannibal so that Hannibal would know that no help was coming.
Hasdrubal Gisco (d.202 BC) was a Carthaginian general during the Second Punic War. Hasdrubal Gisco and Mago Barca defeated and killed Publius Cornelius Scipio in 212 BC, then they combined with Hasdrubal Barca to defeat and kill Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus in Iberia (Spain). However, both Hasdrubal Gisco and Mago Barca were defeated by Scipio Africanus (the son of Publius Scipio) at the Battle of Ilipa in 206 BC. After his defeat Hasdrubal Gisco returned to Africa, but was followed by Scipio and was defeated again. Hasdrubal escaped to Carthage, where he committed suicide in 202 BC.
Himilco the Explorer (dates uncertain) led an expedition from the Mediterranean ca. 410 BC, through the Pillars of Hercules (the Straits of Gibraltar), into the Atlantic Ocean and northwards along the coast of Europe, probably as far as Scandinavia or Scotland. His account of the voyage was filled with tales of sea-monsters and great hardships, probably in an attempt to discourage Greek explorers from following him.
Mago Barca (243-203 BC) was the youngest son of Hamilcar Barca and the brother of Hannibal Barca.
Mago Barca took part in the Second Punic War alongside his brothers Hannibal and Hasdrubal; he was with Hannibal in Italy, but after the Battle of Cannae (216 BC) Hannibal sent Mago back to Carthage to take the golden rings captured from the Romans and to ask for reinforcements. The Carthaginians then sent Mago to help Hasdrubal in Spain.
Mago and his brother Hasdrubal had some initial successes against the Roman forces led by the Scipio brothers (Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus and Publius Cornelius Scipio) but were unable to send help to Hannibal in Italy. Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco fought and killed Publius Scipio, then joined with Hasdrubal Barca to fight and kill Gnaeus Scipio, but were successfully opposed by Publius Cornelius Scipio the Younger (who was later given the title of Scipio Africanus.
Mago Barca was defeated in a battle at Ilipia against Scipio Africanus (206 BC), and then left Spain for Italy in an attempt to help Hannibal. Although he captured part of northern Italy and held it for three years the Romans managed to keep him from reaching Hannibal.
Mago Barca was defeated by the Romans again in 203 BC and (according to the Roman historian Livy) died of his wounds on his way back to Carthage (202 BC).
Copyright © 1999 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved
