DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0035
Carthage and Rome
7
hieroic deeds, and that self-sacrifice in a country's honour has
r-iever been found wanting in the hour of need.1
; The territory occupied by Carthaginians formed only a small
portion of North Africa, as we have already observed. At the
time of the Roman invasion, which may be regarded as the open-
ing of the last chapter in the history of the second Punic war, the
country west of Carthage was under the rule of Gala, the tribes
Ipeyond being governed by Syphax, the most powerful of
.African kings at that period. The rivalry of these two poten-
tates and their wavering policy contributed largely to the success
of the Romans in the impending war. It was impossible for
both these kings to form simultaneous alliances with either
.Roman or Carthaginian. Traditional policy seems to have in-
spired them with perpetual animosity ; and so soon as it was
known that one favoured the invading Roman, the other imrae-
jdiately, without any settled line of action or forecast of the con-
sequences, formed an alliance with the Carthaginian. Both were
jealous of the supremacy of Carthage, and both awaited the
coming of the Roman that they might eventually participate in
spoiling the Carthaginians. Syphax was at first inimical to
Carthage, and subsequently a friend in an hour of need. But he
changed sides again and made a treaty with Publius Scipio, who
commanded the invading force. The conditions were the sup-
port and good will of the Roman Senate and people in exchange
for his assistance in the field of battle. A small embassy, con-
sisting of three centurions, was despatched from Rome with
instructions to remain in Africa till a formal treaty was con-
cluded with this potent but wayward Numidian. Syphax was
flattered by the attention, entertained the ambassadors with
princely hospitality, and requested that one of the centurions
should be allowed to instruct his soldiers in the Roman methods
of warfare. ' Numidians,' he said, ' are only horsemen. They
know nothing about infantry. Teach them.' The request was
complied with, and bodies of Numidians, drilled after the
manner of Roman infantry, were at once formed for the purpose
of defeating Carthage in the plains when the next war broke
1 Strabo says that a tower called Euphrantas was the boundary between Cyrene
and Carthaginian territory. The altars of the Philseni were a little to the east of
this. They fell to ruin about B.C. 350. These mounds or altars, if they ever existed,
may have had some resemblance to the tombs of the two Horatii near Alba, erected
B.C. 673-640. These had a podium or wall of stone surmounted by a cone of earth.
7
hieroic deeds, and that self-sacrifice in a country's honour has
r-iever been found wanting in the hour of need.1
; The territory occupied by Carthaginians formed only a small
portion of North Africa, as we have already observed. At the
time of the Roman invasion, which may be regarded as the open-
ing of the last chapter in the history of the second Punic war, the
country west of Carthage was under the rule of Gala, the tribes
Ipeyond being governed by Syphax, the most powerful of
.African kings at that period. The rivalry of these two poten-
tates and their wavering policy contributed largely to the success
of the Romans in the impending war. It was impossible for
both these kings to form simultaneous alliances with either
.Roman or Carthaginian. Traditional policy seems to have in-
spired them with perpetual animosity ; and so soon as it was
known that one favoured the invading Roman, the other imrae-
jdiately, without any settled line of action or forecast of the con-
sequences, formed an alliance with the Carthaginian. Both were
jealous of the supremacy of Carthage, and both awaited the
coming of the Roman that they might eventually participate in
spoiling the Carthaginians. Syphax was at first inimical to
Carthage, and subsequently a friend in an hour of need. But he
changed sides again and made a treaty with Publius Scipio, who
commanded the invading force. The conditions were the sup-
port and good will of the Roman Senate and people in exchange
for his assistance in the field of battle. A small embassy, con-
sisting of three centurions, was despatched from Rome with
instructions to remain in Africa till a formal treaty was con-
cluded with this potent but wayward Numidian. Syphax was
flattered by the attention, entertained the ambassadors with
princely hospitality, and requested that one of the centurions
should be allowed to instruct his soldiers in the Roman methods
of warfare. ' Numidians,' he said, ' are only horsemen. They
know nothing about infantry. Teach them.' The request was
complied with, and bodies of Numidians, drilled after the
manner of Roman infantry, were at once formed for the purpose
of defeating Carthage in the plains when the next war broke
1 Strabo says that a tower called Euphrantas was the boundary between Cyrene
and Carthaginian territory. The altars of the Philseni were a little to the east of
this. They fell to ruin about B.C. 350. These mounds or altars, if they ever existed,
may have had some resemblance to the tombs of the two Horatii near Alba, erected
B.C. 673-640. These had a podium or wall of stone surmounted by a cone of earth.