Hannibal
Carthaginian general in the Second Punic War
- Born
- 247 BCE, North Africa
- Died
- c. 183–181 BCE, Bithynia (Anatolia)
- War
- Second Punic War, 218–201 BCE
- Known for
- Crossing the Alps (218 BCE); victory at Cannae (216 BCE)
- Defeated
- Zama, 202 BCE
The Carthaginian general whose invasion of Italy coincided with Rome's reports of ships gleaming in the sky.
What is Hannibal known for?
Hannibal Barca was a Carthaginian general, one of the great commanders of antiquity. In 218 BCE, at the start of the Second Punic War, he led an army with war elephants from Spain over the Alps into Italy. He destroyed Roman armies at the Trebia, Lake Trasimene and Cannae (216 BCE) and campaigned in Italy for some fifteen years. Recalled to Africa, he was defeated by Scipio at Zama in 202 BCE. He later went into exile and continued to oppose Rome until his death in Bithynia.
His invasion was a time of fear in Rome, and Livy's history records a burst of prodigies in those years. For the winter of 218 BCE he lists ships seen gleaming in the sky, among other omens, which the Senate ordered expiated. Ancient-astronaut writers cite the passage; historians tie the rise in reports to the crisis itself.
The 'ships gleaming in the sky' that Livy records were reported during Hannibal's war with Rome.
Mentioned on these pages
- Rabbit holeLivy's ships in the sky
- ChapterOne History 10: The watch
- PassageShips gleaming in the sky (Livy, History of Rome 21.62)
- PersonLivy
- PlaceAmiternum
- PlaceRome
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, 'Hannibal'Reference
- Wikipedia, 'Hannibal'Reference
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