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

834' HHANNIBAL. HANNIBAL.
Zonar. viii. 21.) During all this period the Ro- ously gained over by his emissaries. The Roman
mans sent no assistance to their allies: they had, consul, P. Scipio, had already arrived in the neighindeed, as soon as they heard of the siege, dis- bourhood of Massilia, when he heard that Hannibal
patched ambassadors to Hannibal, but he referred had reached the Rhone, but was too late to dispute
them for an answer to the government:at home, the passage of that river: the barbarians on the
and they could obtain no' satisfaction from the left bank in vain endeavoured to prevent the CarCarthaginians, in whose councils the war party had thaginian army from crossing; and Hannibal, havnow a decided predominance. A second embassy ing effected his passage with but little loss, continued
was sent after the fall of Saguntum to demand the his march up the left bank of the Rhone as far as
surrender of Hannibal in atonement for the breach its confluence with the Isere. Here he interposed
of the treaty; but this was met by an open decla- in a dispute between two rival chiefs of the Alloration of war, and thus began the long and ar- broges, and by lending his aid to establish one of
duous struggle called the Second Punic War. Of them firmly on the throne, secured the co-operation
this it has been justly remarked, that it was not so of an efficient ally, who greatly facilitated his
much a contest between the powers of two great farther progress. But at the very commencement
nations,-between Carthage and Rome,-as be- of the actual passage of the Alps he was met by
tween the individual genius of Hannibal on the one hostile barbarians, who at first threatened altogether
hand, and the combined energies of the Roman to prevent his advance; and it was not without
p:eople on the: other. The position of Hannibal heavy loss that he was able to surmount this diffiwas indeed very peculiar: his command in Spain, cult pass. For some time after this his advance
and the powerful army there, which was entirely was comparatively unimpeded; but a sudden and
at his own disposal, rendered him in great measure treacherous attack from the Gaulish mountaineers
independent of the government at Carthage, and at the moment when his troops were strugglingthe latter seemed disposed to take advantage of through a narrow and dangerous defile, went near
this circumstance to devolve all responsibility upon to annihilate his whole army. Surmounting all
him. When he sent to Carthage for instructions these dangers, he at length reached the summit of
as to how he should act in regard to Saguntum, the pass, and thenceforth suffered but little from'
he could obtain no other reply than that he should hostile attacks; but the natural difficulties of the
do as he thought best (Appian, tlisp. 10); and road, enhanced by the lateness of the season (the
though the government afterwards avowed andsup- beginning of October, at which time the snows
ported his proceedings in that instance, they did have already commenced in the high Alps), caused
little themselves to prepare for the impending con- him almost as much detention and difficulty as the
test. All was left to Hannibal, who, after the opposition of the barbarians on the other side of
conquest of Saguntum, had returned once more to the mountains. So heavy were his losses from
New Carthage for the winter, and was there ac- these combined causes, that when he at length
tively engaged in preparations for transporting the emerged from the valley of Aosta into the plains of
scene of war -in the ensuing campaign from Spain the Po, and encamped in the friendly country of
into Italy. At the same time, he did not neglect to the Insubrians, he had with him no more than
provide for the defence of Spain and- Africa during 20,000 foot and 6000 horse. Such were the forces,
his absence: in the former country he placed his as Polybius remarks (ii. 24), with which he debrother Hasdrubal with a considerable army, great' scended into Italy, to attempt the overthrow of a
part of which was composed of Africans, while he power that a few years before was able to muster
sent over a large body of Spanish troops- to con- a disposable force of above 700,000 fighting men.
tribute to the defence of Africa- and even of- Car- (Polyb. iii. 35, 40-56; Liv. xxi. 21-37.)
thage itself. (Polyb. iii. 33.) During the winter The march of Hannibal across the Alps is one of
he allowed- many of the Spaniards in his own the most remarkable events in ancient history, and,
(army to return to their homes, that they might re- as such, was early disfigured by exaggerations and
join their standards with fresh spirits -for the ap- misconceptions. The above narrative is taken
proaching campaign: he himself is said to have wholly from that of Polybius, which is certainly by
repaired to Gades, and there to have offered up in far the most trustworthy that has descended to us;
the temple of Melkarth, the tutelary deity of Tyre but that author has nowhere clearly stated by
and of'Carthage, a solemn sacrifice for the success which of the passes across the Alps Hannibal
of his expedition. (Liv. xxi. 21.) effected his march; and -this question has given.
- All his preparations being now completed, Han- rise to much controversy both in ancient and monibal quitted his winter-quarters at New Carthage dern times. Into this discussion our limits will not
in the spring of 218, and crossed the Iberus with allow us to enter, but the following may be briefly
an army of 90,000 foot and 12,000 horse. (Polyb. stated as the general results:- 1. That after a
iii. 35). The tribes between -that river and the careful examination of the text of Polybius, and
Pyrenees offered at first a vigorous resistance; and comparison of the different localities, his narrative
though they were quickly subdued, Hannibal will be found on the whole to agree best with the
thought it necessary to leave behind him a force of supposition that Hannibal crossed the Graian Alps,
11,000 men, under Hanno, to maintain this newly or Little St. Bernard, though it cannot be denied
acquired province. - His forces were farther thinned that there are some difficulties attending this line,
during the passage of the Pyrenees by desertion, especially in regard to the descent into Italy. 2.
which obliged him to send home a large body of his That Caelius Antipater certainly represented him
Spanish troops. With a greatly diminished army, as taking this route (Liv. xxi. 38); and as he is
but one on which he could securelyrely, he now con- known to have followed the Greek history of
finued his' march from the foot of the Pyrenees to Silenus, who is said to have accompanied Hannibal
the' Rhone without meeting with any opposition, in manyof his campaigns, his authority is of the
the Gaulish tribes through which he passed being greatest weight. 3. That Livy and Strabo, on
favourably disposed to him, or having been previ- the contrary, both suppose him to have crossed the