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who died honourably at Trasimene when they arrive in Hades (Pun. 5.597-8). This
sentiment echoes Hannibal‟s declaration in the other two texts (following the
gladiatorial exhibition) that death on the battlefield is more honourable than being
conquered or running away and suggests that Silius consciously chose not to include the
fight scene. The quip about conquering or dying, attributed to Hannibal in all three texts,
has, as shown by Silius, carried across time long after separation from the context of the
gladiatorial fight and has become a popular motto in more recent times. 124
Silius Italicus reinterprets the feat of crossing the Alps. Scipio underestimates his
enemy as he declares that Hannibal‟s men are tired after their crossing, and tempts
fate 125 with a wish to discover if they are fighting the same Carthaginians whose power
sank off the Aegates islands (Pun. 4.68-80). The response to these closing words come
from a Carthaginian soldier, Syrticus, who complains during the battle that the Romans
at Trasimene do not match up to those of the past (Pun. 5.246-250).
Hannibal’s succession in Spain
The tradition that the nine years Hamilcar spent in Spain were in preparation for
invading Italy locates Hannibal in a role of continuing his father‟s work (Livy, 21.2.2).
Another famous son who continued his father‟s plans and whose success arose, in part,
from his father‟s foundation work was Alexander of Macedon. In the ancient world
Alexander became the paradigm 126 against which a successful general might measure
his career, and Hannibal was no exception (Livy, 35.14.6-11).
The consistent father-son presentation by Livy elides that fact that Hannibal was not
the immediate successor to Hamilcar Barca in Spain, and, although Livy does not
compare Hannibal with Alexander at this point, but it may not have been far from his
mind; his Hannibal and Alexander comparison appears in the following decad when
Hannibal has moved to the east (Livy, 35.14.6-11). There is another, stronger
intersection between Hannibal and Alexander than „continuing his father‟s plans‟
through an analogy with Hercules (discussed in chapter two).
Hamilcar Barca was succeeded by his son-in-law, Hasdrubal, and Hannibal did not
take command until after the death of Hasdrubal. When three men in succession from
124 th
E.g. it is the motto for Scotland‟s Clan McDougal; the Texas 8 Cavalry in the American Civil War;
the First Fighter Wing of USAF, 1918 etc.
125
Spaltenstein, 1986, 269 notes that Scipio is depicted presupposing the victory. This is also the case in
the historiographical traditions.
43