A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

326, HAMILCAR. HAMILCAR.
the different persons that bore it, many of whom ing at the tyranny, and put to death. There is,
are only incidentally mentioned by the Greek or however, much reason to suspect Polyaenus of some
Roman historians. mistake in this matter.
1. The commander of the great Carthaginian 3. One of the commanders of the great Carexpedition to Sicily B.c. 480. He is called by thaginian army, which was defeated by Timoleon
Herodotus (vii. 165) the son of Hanno, by a Syra- at the passage of the Crimissus, B. C. 339. (Plut.
cusan mother; the same historian styles him king Timol. 25.) The fate of the generals in that action
(cauriAeJs) of the Carthaginians, a title by which (for the particulars of which see TIMOLEON) is not
the Greeks in general designate the' two chief ma- mentioned; but it seems probable, from the terms
gistrates at Carthage, who are more properly styled in which Plutarch shortly after speaks of the apsuffetes or judges. There can be little doubt that pointment of Gisco to the command (&i'd. 30), that
this Hamilcar is the same as the person of that they both perished.
name mentioned by Justin (xix. 1, 2) as having 4. Surnamed Rhodanus, was sent by the Carserved with great distinction both in Sardinia and thaginians to the court of Alexander after the fall
Africa, and having been subsequently killed in the of Tyre, -B. c. 332, (Justin. xxi. 6.) He was prowar in Sicily, though he is said by that author to bably sent as ambassador to deprecate the wrath
have been the son of Mago. If this. be so, it is of the king for the assistance given to the Tyrians,
probably to his exploits in those countries that He- or to ascertain the disposition of Alexander towards
rodotus refers, when he says that:Hamilcar had Carthage, in the same manner as we-again find a
attained the dignity of king, as a reward for his Carthaginian embassy at his court just before his
warlike valour; and the same services may have death. (Diod. xvii. 113.) Justin, however, recaused him to be selected for the command of an presents Hamilcar as having no public capacity, but
expedition, undoubtedly the greatest which the as worming himself into the king's favour, and then
Carthaginians had yet undertaken, although we secretly reporting his designs to Carthage, Yet,
cannot but suspect some exaggeration in the state- according to the same author, when he returned
ment of Herodotus and Diodorus, that the army of home, after the death of Alexander, he was put to
Hamilcar amounted to 300,000 men. He lost se- death' by the Carthaginians' for' having betrayed
veral ships on the passage by a storm, but arrived their interests. (Justin. xxi. 6; Orosius, iv. 6.)
with the greater part of the armament in safety at 5. Carthaginian governor in Sicily at the time
Panormus. From thence, after a few days' repose, that Agathocles was first rising into power. The
he marched at once upon Himera, and laid siege to latter, having been driven into exile from Syracuse,
that city, which was defended by Theron of Agri- had assembled a mercenary force at Morgantia, with
gentum, who shut himself up within the walls, and which he carried on hostilities against the Syradid not venture to face the Carthaginians in the cusans. Hamilcar was at first induced to espouse
field. Gelon, however, who soon arrived to the the cause of the latter, and defend them against
assistance of his father-in-law, with a-considerable Agathocles; but was afterwards prevailed on to
army, was bolder, and quickly brought on a general take up the interests of the exiles, and brought
engagement, in which the Carthaginians, notwith- about a treaty, by which Agathocles was restored
standing their great superiority of numbers, were to his country, and, with the assistance of the Carutterly defeated, and their vast army annihilated, thaginians, quickly made himself undisputed master
those who made their escape from the field of battle of the city, B. C. 317. (Justin, xxii. 2, compared
falling as prisoners into the hands of the Sicilians. with Diod. xix. 5-9.) Hamilcar appears to have
(Herod. vii. 165-167; Diod. xi. 20-22; Po- reckoned on the devotion of the tyrant whom he
lyaen. i. 27. ~ 2.) Various accounts are given of had assisted in establishing, and who had sworn to
the fate of Hamilcar himself, though all agree that be faithful to the interests' of Carthage; and we
he perished on this disastrous day. A story, in find him soon after interposing as mediator, to teritself not very probable, is told by Diodorus, and, minate the war which the Agrigentines, in conwith some variation, by Polyaenus, that he was junction with the Geloans and Messenians, had
killed at the beginning of the action by a body of commenced against Agathocles. (Diod. xix. 71.)
horsemen whom Gelon had'contrived by stratagem The Carthaginian allies even complained against
to introduce into his camp. Herodotus, on the him, as sacrificing their interests to those of the
other hand, states that his body could not be found, Syracusan tyrant; and the senate' of Carthage deand that the Carthaginians accounted for this cir- termined upon his recal, but he died before his
cumstance by saying, that he had thrown himself, successor could arrive in Sicily. (Justin. xxii.
in despair, into a fire at which he was sacri- 3, 7.)
ficing, when he beheld the total rout of his army. 6. Soii of Gisco [GIsco, No. 2], was appointed to
A remarkable circumstance is added by the same succeed the preceding in the command of the Carhistorian (vii. 167), that the Carthaginians, after thaginian province in Sicily. (Justin. xxii. 3.) The
his death, used to sacrifice to him as a hero, and government of Carthage having resolved to engage
erected:monuments to his memory not only at seriously in war with Agathocles, committed the conCarthage, but in all their colonial -cities. Such ho- duct of it to Hamilcar,who wasat that time, according
nours, singular enough in any case as paid to an to Diodorus, the most eminent among all their geneunsuccessful general, seem strangely at variance rals. The same writer elsewhere styles him king,
with the statement of Diodorus (xiii. 43), that his that is, of course, suffete. (Diod. xix. 106, xx. 33.)
son Gisco was driven into exile on account of his Having assembled a large fleet and army, Hamilcar
father's defeat. According to Justin (xix. 2), Ha- sailed for Sicily (B. C. 311); and though he lost
milcar left three sons, Himilco, Hanno, and Gisco. sixty triremes and many transports on the passage,
2. Brother of Gisco [GIsco, No. 2], is men- soon again restored his forces with fresh recruits,
tioned only by Polyaenus (v. 11), who states that, and advanced as far as the river Himera. Here he
after having distinguished himself greatly in the was met by Agathocles, and, after a short interval,
conduct of wars in Africa, he was accused of aim- a decisive action ensued, in which the.Syracusans