Bomilcar (3rd century BC)
Bomilcar (Punic: 𐤁𐤃𐤌𐤋𐤒𐤓𐤕, BDMLQRT)[1] was a Carthaginian commander in the Second Punic War (218–201 BC).
He was the commander of the Carthaginian supplies which were voted to Hannibal after the
Syracuse, then besieged by the Romans. Finding himself unable to cope with the superior fleet of the enemy, he withdrew to North Africa.[3]
In 212 BC, he escaped the harbour at
Syracuse and carried to Carthage the news of the perilous state of the city, all of which—except Achradina—was in the possession of Marcellus. He returned within a few days with 100 ships.[4]
In the same year, following the destruction by
pestilence of the Carthaginian land-forces under Hippocrates and Himilco, Bomilcar again sailed to Carthage with the news and returned with 130 ships, but was prevented by Marcellus from reaching Syracuse. He then proceeded to Tarentum, apparently with the view to cutting off the supplies of the Roman garrison in that town. As the presence of his force only increased the scarcity under which the Tarentines themselves suffered, they were obliged to dismiss him.[5]
See also
- Other Bomilcars in Carthaginian history
- Melqart, the Canaanite deity
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Huss, Werner (1985), Geschichte der Karthager, Munich: C.H. Beck, ISBN 9783406306549. (in German)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Bomilcar". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
