Saphonbaal (english version) part III

 

Livy XXX 12 (continued): "She was a striking beauty in the prime of her life. So when, for once his knees and then his right hand comprehensing, urgent asked for his word  that she would not be extradited and her words were more like caresses than supplication, the heart of the victor was not only moved by pity, but the innate flammability of Numidians, he was overwhelmed by love for his prisoner.   He gave her his right hand as collateral for granting her request and went into the palace. Then he began to think about how he could stand his promise given.   When he could not find a solution, he was inspired by his love for an equally reckless and shameless plan: he commanded suddenly to organise a wedding who then for Laelius and Scipio prevent for action against a prisoner who now was by a wedding married to Masinissa."

Appianus. The Punic Wars V,27 (vervolg): Masinissa accepted her explanations gladly and married her; but when he returned to Scipio he left her at Cirta, forseeing apparently what would happen.”

 

The romantic evaluation of Livy knows no bounds. That Syphax was so mad for the maid would be already hard to believe but that Masinissa from one moment to the other falls for her, it is still more unlikely. Livy also emphasizes striking a so-called known characteristic of the Numidians: congenital flammability.
Appian does this passage into a single sentence, what makes us think.

 

Livy XXX 12 (final):
"---- After the marriage Laelius appeared, who did not hide his displeasure with this act. First he tried to take away the wife of the marriage and to send her along with Syphax and the other prisoners to Scipio. But then he yielded to the prayer of Masinissa, who begged him to leave the decision of which of the two kings Sophoniba would share the fate to Scipio. He sent only Syphax and the prisoner of war away and captured with the help of Masinissa the other cities of Numidia, that were still occupied by the troops of the king."

 

This passage gives a clear picture of the relations. Masinissa has nothing to say. He is just a puppet of the Romans, who just have to listen to even a Roman-second-in-command. Only with the support of the Romans, he can recover again the whole of Massylia!

 

Appianus. The Punic Wars V,27 (vervolg): Scipio asked Syphax: ‘What evil genius misled you, after inviting me as your friend to come to Africa, and caused you to break your faith to the gods by whom you swore and the Roman people, and to join the Carthaginians in making war against us, when not long before we were helping you against the Carthaginians?’ Syphax replied: ‘Sophonsiba, the daughter of Hasdrubal, with whom I fell in love to my hurt, is passionately attached to her country, and she is able to make everybody subservient to her wishes. She turned me away from your friendship to that of her own country and plunged me from that state of good fortune into my present misery. I advise you (for now, being on your side and rid of Sophonisba, I must be faithful to you) to beware of Sophonisba lest she draw Masinissa over to her designs, for it is not to be expected that this woman will ever choose the Roman side, so strongly is she attached to her own country.’ “

Livy XXX 13: "--- He has been out of his mind, and then had all the personal guest and official friendship treaties banished from his mind when he pulled a woman from Carthage in the house. Through that marriage torch his guesthouse went up in flames, that fury and plague had all the temptations his mind distracted and alienated from themselves, and she did not hesitate before she singlehandedly wicked weapons against his guest and personal friend had attracted. It was for him in his hopeless, miserable condition, however, a consolation to see that the same hate and fury was transferred to the home of his greatest enemy. Masinissa was no wiser or firmer than Syphax, even more careless due to his youth: in any case, his marriage with her was stupid and had been wilder than his own. "

 

In any case, from the love of Sophoniba is not much left, and she gets all the blame by  Syphax. What a woman can do to all of them! It's not credible at all. Livy makes Syphax as speaking out of hatred and jealousy. Appian leave it in the middle, whether he is telling the truth, or words eructed and filled with jealousy.

 

 

Appianus. The Punic Wars. V,28: “So he spoke (Syphax), but whether he was telling the truth or was moved by jealousy and a desire to hurt Masinissa as much as possible, is not known. But Scipio called Syphax to the council, as he had shown himself sagacious and was acquainted with the country, and took counsel with him as Cyrus did with Croesus, king of Lydia. Laelius having returned and told him that he heard the same about Sophonisba from many others, he commanded Masinissa to deliver up the wife of Syphax. When the latter remonstrated and related what had happened in the past with regard to her, Scipio ordered him more sharply not to possess himself by force of any of the Roman spoils of victory, but to ask her after she was delivered up and obtain her if he could. Accordingly Masinissa went with a Roman detachment to fetch Sophonisba, but he went ahead secretly and brought her a dose of poison, explaining the circumstances and telling her that she must either drink it or go into voluntary captivity to the Romans. Without another word he rode away. She showed the cup to her nurse, told her not to weep for her, since she died gloriously, and drank the poison. Masinissa showed her dead body to those of the Romans who had now come up, and gave her a royal funeral; after which he returned to Scipio. When Syphax arrived in Rome, some of the authorities thought that he ought to be spared because he had been their friend and ally in Spain, others, that he ought to be punished for fighting against his friends. In the meantime he sickened of grief and died.”

Livy XXX 15: "---- Disappointed he (Masinissa) went from the headquarters to his tent. There he removed all the witnesses and spent some time with many sighs and groans, which was good to hear by the guys around his tent. Finally, he let out a wail and called a faithful servant who, according to the tradition of the kings had poison in his care for any emergency. He recommended to make a mix, bring it to Sophoniba, taking the message, that Masinissa would like to have kept the first promise, which he owed to his wife as a man.  But since the rulers deprived him of the decision thereon, he kept his second promise: she would not be alive in the power of the Romans. Thinking of her father, the commander, to her hometown and to the two kings with whom she had been married, she had to take its destiny into its own hands. When the servant of this notice and at the same time showed the poison to Sophoniba she said, "I'll take the wedding gift. He's not even unwelcome, as my husband has nothing better to offer to his wife. But mention this: I would have had a better death if I was not married at my funeral." As violently as she spoke she took the cup and drank it without any sign of emotion fearlessly empty ----"..

 

In Appian Masinissa presented itself the poisoned cup to Sophoniba but Livy let it do by its slave. The departing words of Sophoniba have also been different. Once again it appears that both classical authors have completed the story at their own discretion, but that they are not based on an older source. Perhaps the only true event is that Sophoniba was forced to drink the poisoned cup empty, if there has been a poisoned chalice at all.

Summary:
The story of Polybius is probably based on truth. The rest is with regard to the role of Sophonisba fantasized in a greater or lesser extent, especially by Livy, which partially is emulated by Appian. The broad outlines of the story are called up, as the battle between the Numidians themselves, the Roman invasion of Africa and the defeats of Syphax and Hasdrubal.

The impact on our world:
This story of Sophoni(s)ba has caused many inspiration in the 17th and 18th centuries in the theater arts and painting. Matti Preti (1613-1699) paints a beautiful picture of her death. In the French world several theater pieces appears titled Sophonisba by:
1601 Montreux
1629 Mayret
1663 Corneille
1716 Chancel La Grange
1822 Voltaire (processing Mayret)

H.R.van Diessen
NCFPS
Apeldoorn, July 5, 2014