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Hannibal‟s fiery spirit might have destroyed Rome, if the other
requirements of war had been forthcoming; but he was thwarted by the
perverse jealousy of his countrymen. Supplies were refused to him and
he was forced to tame his proud spirit and let it rust in idleness.
Duff, 1989, 387.
Primarily Silius Italicus, like Polybius, places most emphasis on Scipio‟s successes in
Africa as the reason for Hannibal to be recalled. The remainder of Punica 16 is devoted
to Scipio‟s rise to power, culminating in his speech to the Senate as consul arguing for
permission to go to Africa (Pun. 16.645-697).
The extant sections of the Histories covering Scipio‟s attacks on the enemy camps in
Africa have been described as „sensationalist‟. 367 Polybius presents the Carthaginian
response to Scipio through a recreation of a Carthaginian senate meeting discussing its
options after their army has been defeated and their camps near Utica destroyed. The
senate divided into three groups, each arguing for a different response to the crisis. The
group wanting to recall Hannibal from Italy is prioritised by having its argument placed
first (Hist. 14.6.10). The second group argues for negotiating a peace settlement with
Scipio while the third group argues for contacting Syphax (a Numidian king married to
Hasdrubal‟s daughter) and continuing the war (Hist. 14.6.12). This third group prevails
until Scipio defeats the combined forces of Hasdrubal and Syphax (Hist. 14.7-8). The
Carthaginian senate reconvenes and, still belligerent, decides to attack the Roman fleet
at Utica at the same time as sending envoys with instructions to recall Hannibal, who is
described as their last hope (Hist. 14.10.1; cf. Livy, 30.8-9). 368
Livy‟s presentation of this meeting has close parallels to the one in Polybius, and
despite Livy‟s earlier mention of envoys being sent to recall Mago at the same time as
Hannibal, there are no references to Mago in either Livy‟s or Polybius‟ depictions of the
Carthaginian senate discussions. The main difference between them is in Livy‟s
prioritising of the three political groups at Carthage. The suggestion to recall Hannibal is
put back to the second position; the call for peace negotiations placed first and the call
for strengthening the army and contacting Syphax remaining third. This last is described
by Livy as a reaction worthy of the Romans in adversity (Livy, 30.7.1). As in the
Polybian tradition this third group initially prevails until Syphax and Hasdrubal are
defeated. The Carthaginians decide to attack the Roman fleet off Utica and send envoys
367 Walbank, 1967, 429.
368 Dodge, 1891, 640 argues that the recall was too late. „Carthage was lost long before Zama.‟ Even if
Hannibal had won, there would have been another battle.
167