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(Livy, 30.20.5-7; Diodorus Siculus 27.8-9; Appian, Hann. 9.59). 369 Yet, Livy closes
with a remark that Hannibal arrived in Africa with no loss to his military strength (Livy,
30.28.1-2). Indeed, in historical terms, any of Hannibal‟s soldiers left behind would fear
for their lives if they were captured by the Romans, thus refusing to travel to Africa with
Hannibal seems an unlikely choice.
The debate within the Carthaginian senate related by Polybius and Livy, discussed
above, is not depicted in the Punica but implied when Syphax is summoned to the
Carthaginian senate to be reminded that his marriage to Hasdrubal‟s daughter binds him
to Carthage and overrides any agreement he made with the Romans. Consequently
Syphax breaks his recent treaty with Rome (Pun. 17.59-75) but retribution for such
impiety is swift because he and Hasdrubal are defeated in battle. The Roman victory is
already assumed because Syphax is taken prisoner and kept alive for Scipio‟s triumph
(Pun. 17.127-149; 17.629).
The second senate debate is implied when envoys are sent to recall Hannibal,
described as their last resort (cf. Hist. 14.10.1; Livy 30.9.8):
Stabat Carthago, truncatis undique membris,
uni nixa viro; tantoque fragore ruentem
Hannibal absenti retinebat nomine molem.
169
Pun 17.149-51
Now that all her limbs were severed; Carthage depended entirely on
one man for support; and the great name of Hannibal, even in his
absence, kept the edifice of her greatness from falling in utter ruin.
Duff, 1989, 451.
Hannibal is reluctant to leave Italy, but the envoys point out that if he delayed, Carthage
itself may no longer exist (Pun. 17.156-7). There is short delay until Hannibal dreams
that he was forced out of Italy, not by Scipio, but by the ghosts of all those he had
killed:
369 Appian also says that some were given as slaves to other soldiers in the army (Appian, Hann. 9.59).
Moore, 1955, 441 n3: the story is a fiction; the temple would hold few people. (This is a very literal
reading as a temple precinct could cover a considerable area.) Appian does not mention a temple;
Diodorus Sicilus puts a number of 20,000 killed! The reality of Hannibal‟s military situation means he
would not leave behind anything potentially useful for his enemies, whether equipment, pack animals, or
well-trained soldiers.