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Roman translation of the Carthaginian Baal (Hann. 1.2). 104 One of Martial‟s epigrams
locates the oath scene at an altar of Hercules (Martial, Ep. 9.43.9) which is also
plausible as Hannibal was linked to Hercules (Melqart in the Carthaginian pantheon),
discussed in more detail in the following chapter. By a chance of survival Melqart is one
of the few gods with surviving inscriptional evidence for a temple in Carthage but such
evidence does not, of course, signify a connection to Hannibal‟s oath (CIS 1 4894,
5575).
Motivation from perceived wrongs of history
Polybius, Livy and Silius Italicus all depict Hannibal being motivated to some extent by
the outcome of the First Punic War but each author takes a different approach to
illustrate the point.
Polybius‟ Histories 1 and 2 are introductory, or preliminary, 105 to Histories 3, thus
the defeat of Carthage in the First Punic War and its aftermath are presented as major
motivating factors for Hannibal. Polybius reminds his audience of this view by referring
back to the Carthaginian defeat at certain important moments in Histories 3, for example
in the paired speeches by Hannibal and Scipio prior to battle at the Ticinus River.
Livy‟s annalistic format precludes the inclusion of much discussion on the First
Punic War in the third decad, nevertheless he presents a series of references to the First
Punic War at specific moments in the narrative and creates a pattern of references to it
in speeches. Furthermore, he prioritises the effects of the distant past over contemporary
events in the opening lines to the third decad by reference to the First Punic War primo
Punico bello before covering any events in Spain (Livy, 21.1.2) and by introducing
Hannibal as the son of Hamilcar Barca patri Hamilcari (Livy, 21.1.4). Mutual hatreds
and especially Carthaginian resentment at Roman arrogance and greed in the aftermath
of the First Punic War are given by way of an explanation for the ferocity of the warfare
to follow.
Silius Italicus briefly refers to the First Punic War in two lines in Punica 1, as
Carthaginian aspirations drown in the Sicilian Sea with Lutatius‟ victory (Pun. 1.33-5),
primarily because he takes Carthaginian and Barca family resentments against Rome
104 Mellor, 1991, 142 reads the identification of the altar to the Carthaginian Jupiter optimus maximus as
an example of Nepos simplifying his text for those readers only acquainted with Latin. Cf. Nepos, De
Duc. Illus., Pref. 1-3.
105 Hist. 1.3.10; cf. Walbank, I, 44; Henderson, 2001, 232-5.
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