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

HAMILCAR. i HAMILHCAR. 327
were totally defeated with great slaughter. Aga- gulus and L. Manlius Vulso. The two fleets met
thocles took refuge in Gela; but Hamilcar, instead off Ecnomus, on the south coast of Sicily: that of
of besieging him there, employed himself in gaining the Carthaginians consisted of 350 quinqueremes,
over or reducing the other cities of Sicily, most of while the Romans had 330 ships of war, besides
which gladly forsook the alliance of the Syracusan transports. In the battle that ensued, Hamilcai,
tyrant and joined the Carthaginians. (Diod. xix. who commanded the left wing of the Carthaginian
106-110; Justin. xxii. 3.) It was now that fleet, at first obtained some advantage, but the
Agathocles adopted the daring resolution of trans- Romans ultimately gained a complete' victory.
ferring the seat of war to Africa, whither he pro- Above 30 of the Carthaginian ships were sunk'or
ceeded in person, leaving his brother Antander to destroyed, and 64 taken. (Polyb. i. 25-28;
withstand Hamilcar in Sicily. The latter does not Zonar. viii. 12; Eutrop. ii. 21; Oros. iv. 8.) Haappear to have laid siege to Syracuse itself, con- milcar escaped with his remaining ships to Hetenting himself with blockading it by sea, while he raclea Minoa, where he soon after received orders
himself was engaged in reducing other parts of to repair immediately to Carthage, now threatened
Sicily. On receiving intelligence from Carthage by the Roman army, which had effected its landof the destruction of the fleet of Agathocles, he ing in Africa. On his arrival, he was associated
made an attempt to terrify the: Syracusans into with Hasdrubal and Bostar in the command of
submission; but having been frustrated in this as the army, which was opposed to Regulus, and
well as in the attempt to carry the walls by sur- must consequently share with those generals the
prise, he again withdrew from before the city. blame of the want of skill and judgment so con(Diod. xx. 15, 16.) At length, having made spicuous in the conduct of the campaign. [BosTAR;
himself master of almost all the rest of Sicily (B. c. XANTHIPPUS.] This incapacity on their part led
309), he determined to direct his efforts in earnest to the defeat of the Carthaginian army at Adis:
against Syracuse; but being misled by an am- we are not told by Polybius what became of the
biguous prophecy, he was induced to attempt to generals after this battle, but his expressions would
surprise the:city by a night attack, in which his seem to imply that they still retained their comtroops were thrown into disorder and repulsed. mand; it appears at least probable that the HaHe himself, in the confusion, fell into the hands of imilcar mentioned by Orosius (iv. 1) as being sent
the enemy, by whom he was put to death ill the immediately after the defeat of Regulus to subdue
most ignominious manner, and his head sent to the revolted Numidians was the one of whom we
Agathocles in Africa as a token of their victory are now treating. On the other hand, it is
(Diod. xx. 29, 30; Justin. xxii. 7; Cic. deDiv. i. vaguely asserted by Florus (ii. 2) that the Cartha44; Val. Max. i. 7, ext. ~ 8.) ginian generals were either slain or taken prison7. A general of the Carthaginians in the first ers; and it may perhaps be this Hamilcar of whom
Punic War. We know nothing of his family or Diodorus relates (ELe. Vales. xxiv.) that he was
connections, but he must be carefully distinguished given up, together with Bostar, to the kindred of
from the great Hamilcar Barca [No. 8], with whom Regulus, and tortured by them in a cruel manner,
he has been confounded by Zonaras (viii. 10), as in revenge for the fate of their kinsman. It is not,
well as by some modern writers. It was in the however, clear whether in this story, which is at
third year of the war (B. c. 262) that he was ap- best but a doubtful one, Hamilcar and Bostar were
pointed to succeed Hanno in the command, when represented as captives or as hostages. (See Niethat general had failed in averting the fall of Agri- buhr, Hist. of Rome, vol. iii. p. 300; Polyb. i. 30,
gentum. (Diod. xxiii. Exc. Hoesclel. 9. p. 503; 31; Eutrop. ii. 21; Oros. iv. 8; Florus, ii. 1.)
Zonar. l. c. See HANNO, NO. 5.) His first oper- 8. Surnamed BAiRcA, an epithet supposed to be
ations were very successful; and notwithstanding related to the Hebrew Barak, and to signify
the great defeat of the Carthaginian fleet off Mylae " lightning." (Gesenius, Linzg. Pzoenie. Monum.
by Duilius (B. c. 260), Halnilcar for a time main- p. 403.) It was merely a personal appellation,
tained the superiority by land. Learning that the and is not to be regarded as a family name,
Roman allies were encamped near Therma, apart though from the great distinction that he obtained,
from the legionary troops, he fell suddenly upon we often find the name of Barcine applied either to
them, surprised their camp, and put 4000 of them his family or his party in the state. (Niebuhr,
to the sword. (Polyb. i. 24.) After this he ap- Lect. on Rom. Hist. vol. i. p. 134, not.) We know
pears to have traversed the island with his vic- nothing of him previous to his appointment to the
torious army, as we find him making himself command of the Carthaginian forces in Sicily, in
master of Enna and Camarina, both of which were the eighteenth year of the first Punic War, B. c.
betrayed to him by the inhabitants. He at the 247. He was at this time quite a young man
same time fortified the stronghold of Drepanum, (admnodum adolescentulus, Corn. Nep. Hamilc. 1),
which became in the latter part of the war one of but had already given proofs of his abilities in war,
the most important fortresses of the Carthaginians. which led to his being named'as the successor
(Diod. xxiii. p. 503; Zonar. viii. 11.) In the of Carthalo. His first operations fully justified
year 257 he commanded the Punic fleet on the the choice, and were characterised by the saine
north coast of Sicily, and fought a naval action energy and daring as distinguished the whole of
with the Roman consul C. Atilius, in which, ac- his subsequent career. At the time that he'
cording to Polybius, the victory was undecided, arrived in Sicily the Romans were masters of the
though the Roman commander was honoured with whole island, with the exception of the two fora triumph. (Polyb. i. 25, 27; Zonar. viii. 12; tresses of Drepanum and Lilybaeum, both of which
Fast. CapitoL) In the following year (256), we were blockaded by them on the land side, and the
find him associated with Hanno in the command Carthaginians had for some time past contented
of the great Carthaginian fleet, which was de- themselves with defending these two strongholds,
signed to prevent the passage of the Roman expe- and keeping open their communication with them
dition to Africa under:the consuls M. Atilius Re- by sea..But Hamilcar, after ravaging.with: hia
Y4