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

 

Saphonbaal (english version) part II

 

Livy XXIX 23 (continued) "But Hasdrubal always remembered the covenant that Scipio had made with the king and the unreliable and fickle nature of the barbarians, and feared that a crossing from Scipio to Africa this marriage would prove to be a weak bondage.           That's why he brought the Numidian, now he was still in his first love daze, using sweet words of the girl to led envoys to Scipio in Sicily to warn him that he is not on his earlier promises had to cross out on  confidence to Africa on earlier promisses.     He was by his marriage to a Carthaginian citizeness - the daughter of Hasdrubal he had seen a guest with him - and, moreover, linked by a formal treaty with the people of Carthage.       Therefore, he wished for everything that the Romans would perform as they had done so far, their war against the Carthaginians far from Africa so he was not forced to participate in their war record and join one or the other army to and thus to be infidelity with the other convenant. When Scipio would not stay in Africa away and his army would come to Carthage, he could not do anything else than fight for the African country in which he was born, and fight for the home town of his wife and her father and her roommates.

Zonaras B.IX, c.12: "Fearing that Masinissa would like to find his way to Scipio, the Carthaginians tried to convince Syphax to resign its heritage and at the same time regaining that  presented in view. Masinissa saw through the stop well, but he went on with the contract, to inflict under the mask of the reliability of his enemies great damage; for he was angry with them more about Sophonisba, as to the throne due. On the way, he was actually an ally of the Romans, while he wore friendship for Carthage to the public; conversely was the case with  Syphax, while he was in fact on the part of the Carthaginians, apparently an ally of the Romans; in this capacity he sent an embassy to Scipio and dissuaded him to risk the crossing. This learned Scipio in clandestine dialogues with the Herald; to hide the news from the soldiers, he made the Herald depart on the same day, before it has had time to get together with others; then he summoned his army and accelerated the crossing, by pretending the Carthaginians were still not prepared, and already earlier Masinissa had forced the exit and complained about the slowness of the Romans, and would do so Syphax the same. After these words he drove off and landed on the Apollonian promontory. "

 

 

Syphax had already committed himself in 213 BC with the Romans, when Gala Maesulië had defeated him destructively. In 210 BC Syphax even sends a delegation to Rome and is working to fight the Carthaginians. But now he plays fully the Carthaginian card despite pretended neutrality. Syphax is not to be trusted. Carthage is dragged into a civil Numidian war, which now Carthage thinks to have the strongest party at his side but they were also afraid of Masinissa, even though at that time he had very few men under his command. Nevertheless they knew his reputation from Spain! Tellingly, it is also the attitude of Carthage and Syphax, who understand nothing of the Roman mentality. The Romans will have nothing to say by an embassy. Instead, they'll just do exactly the opposite of what the mission of Syphax wanted. Scipio seems to have hastened the crossing therefore almost immediately.
If we are to believe Zonaras than it seems that at this crucial stage Carthage sought to have to get all the Numidians behind her but their internal divisions have prevented that. Worse, at one point no one knew who could not be trusted.

After Scipio's landing near Utica with his army and eventually destroyed the camps of Hasdrubal and Syphax, Sophoniba comes back into the picture:

 

Polybius 14,1,7. World History. "---- The Numidian prince (Syphax) and his aides had initially been planning on their retreat to go directly to their own area. But when they encountered to Abba Celtiberians over 4000 men as mercenaries who were recruited by the Carthaginians, they broke off their retreat, because these auxiliaries inspired in them confidence, and they started to get again some faith in the future Moreover, prayed and begged the girl, Hasdrubal's daughter, who, as I have said, the wife of Syphax, her husband not to go away, and in this critical situation not to let the Carthaginians down. The Numidian was persuaded and acceded to its request. "

Livy XXX 6: "---- It now began to be mobilize men in the city and in the country and envoys were sent to Syphax. He was itself with all its might busy with preparations for the war. His wife, not like before with caresses, which already had impact enough on her loving husband, but with prayers and lamentations used its influence, and tears exorcised her father and hometown not be left to their fate and that Carthage should not be destroyed by flames as was happened to  the army camps. The envoys also brought encouraging news that came at the right time: they were encountered in a town called Obba 4000 Celtiberiërs ----- "

 

Initially, you tend to believe only Polybius about the stories on Sophoniba as he sat in the nearest time there. He was even nearly contemporaneous. However, how can a single supplication of a girl have to bring such a big story.
Livy broadly follows here the passage of Polybius, but he can’t stop romanticizing and paint Syphax as a terribly loving husband. What may be the truth is that the wife of Syphax begged him to resist, and that the arrival of 4,000 mercenaries from Spain were a great support.

 

Syphax and Hasdrubal are again defeated in the battle of the big fields and Masinissa hurries to take Cirta. There, is waiting for him, according to Livy, a big surprise:

 

 

 

Livy XXX 12: "--- When he entered the court, Sophoniba, the wife of Syphax and the daughter of the Punic Hasdrubal, rushed to meet him from the threshold. When she saw the multitude of soldiers around Masinissa who by his armor and subsequent appearance, she kept him for a king, fell down on his knees and said, "The gods, your courage and your lucky stars have brought to you all the power over our lives. But if a prisoner is allowed to elevate him who is master of her life and death, and touch his victorious right hand to her pleading voice, pray and I beg you in your royal majesty, which we recently also possessed by name of the people of the Numidians that you have shared with Syphax, the gods of the palace - that you may receive favorable signs from here then they have to leave Syphax - that if you grant me this favor as a suppliant: that you yourself decide over your prisoner what your heart tells you and me, but not to be a subject to the arrogant, cruel arbitrariness of some Roman. If I had been the wife of Syphax, nothing else, I'd prefer the word of a Numidian and a man born in Africa. And not the word of a foreigner of foreign origin. What a Carthaginian woman, the daughter of Hasdrubal, had to fear of a Roman, you'll see for yourself. If you have no other way available, pray and I beg you, that you protect me from the dead by the arbitrariness of the Romans. '"

Appianus. The Punic Wars V,27: “After this they entered the country of the Massylians and the territory of Syphax, bringing the one again under Masinissa’s rule and winning over the other by persuasion, or, when persuasion failed, by force. Ambassadors also came to them from Cirta offering them the palace of Syphax and others came especially to Masinissa from Sophonisba, the wife of Syphax, to make explanations about her forced marriage.

 

 

It is utterly implausible that Sophoniba has spoken this eloquent and full of subordinate clauses by Livy has spoken so. Something like that could possibly still be. Sophoniba seems to appeal to the joint African descent. This kind of pan-Africanism has never been a real possibility in this region. The division among the African peoples, tribes and cities was too big.

Appian let Masinissa also marry Sophonisba, but then chooses a completely different angle and let her be the major scapegoat in the words of Syphax.
The stories of Livy and Appian are hardly any more credible. It may be that Masinissa found the wife of Syphax at Cirta and that Scipio thought that was dangerous for the faith of Masinissa to the Roman cause. No more than that.

 

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Saphonbaal (english version) part I

Who was that?
The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquity (Schlimmer / de Boer 1910) defines them as follows:
"Sophonisbe: daughter of the carthaginian general Hasdrubal. She harbored an implacable hatred against Rome. Therefore Scipio demanded her extradition for fear that Masinissa's wedding would not be sustained eventually at Sophonisbe's insinuations.”

It is not that simple. Here blindly is followed the opinion of the classical authors Livy and Appian, who a few centuries after her wrote their books. However, Polybius (200-120 BC) was almost a contemporary of her and keep it in the short notice: the wife of King Syphax begged him to stand up for Carthage in these tough times. He did not even mention her name here. Now it may be that Polybius was very brief in his reporting. Later authors come forward with a lot of stories about her person. Are they all dreaming, or is there still a ground of truth?

The name:
Sophonibaal.
Ṣpnb'l (pun), Sophonibas (g), Sophoni(s)ba / Suphunibal (lat).
Meaning: My Saphon Baal / My nook is Baal.

traditions:
Polyb.XIV 1.7
Diod. XXVII 7
App. Iber 37, Punic wars II 10 Lib.27-28.
Liv.XXIX 23.4, 12.10 to 15.10 XXX
Zon.IX 11

literature:
Benz, names p 177-178, 401-402

Jongeling, names p 246

 

 

 

 

Or how a woman in a small supporting role in the version of Polybius play a leading role in later historian stories. Assuming that every surviving passage contains a basis of truth, then the story chronologically is more or less as follows:

Appianus. The Punic Wars II, 10:

“There were many chieftains in Numidia who had separate dominions. Syphax occupied the highest place among them and was held in special honour by the others. There was also a certain Masinissa, son of the king of the Massylians, a powerful tribe. He had been brought up and educated at Carthage and being a handsome man, of noble character, Hasdrubal, the son of Gisco, who was second in rank to nobody in Carthage, betrothed his daughter to him although he was a Numidian and Hasdrubal a Carthagian, and after the betrothal took the young man with him to the war in Spain.

Syphax, who was also pricked with love of the girl, began to pillage the Carthaginian territory, and proposed to Scipio (who sailed over from Spain to meet him) that they should make a joint attack on Carthage.

The Carthaginians, learning this and knowing how great service Syphax could render them in the war against the Romans, gave the girl to him without the knowledge of Hasdrubal or Masinissa, since they were in Spain. The later, being greatly exasperated, in his turn made an alliance with Scipio in Spain, concealing it from Hasdrubal, as he supposed. But Hasdrubal detected it, and although he was grieved at the outrage put upon the young man and his daughter, nevertheless thought that it would be an advantage to his country to make away with Masinissa. So when the latter returned from Spain to Africa at the death of his father, he sent a cavalry escort with him and told them to put him to death secretly in whatever way they could.”

 

Carthage is betting on the wrong horse. With this, they will lose the war that is going on. However, it is highly questionable whether it is the way it went. It is also possible that Masinissa saw that the Romans were going to win and therefore exchanged camp. Only then does one give to Syphax Sophonisba indicating that the side of Carthage has been chosen. Sophoniba only has a small supporting role, and that's probably how it really went

 

Appianus. The wars in Spain, 37.

“----At this time also Masinissa crossed the straits, without the knowledge of Hasdrubal, and established friendly relations with Scipio, and swore to join him, if the war should be carried into Africa. This man remained faithful under all circumstances and for the following reason. The daughter of Hasdrubal had been betrothed to him while he was fighting under the latter’s command. But king Syphax was pricked with love of the girl, and the Carthaginians, considering it a matter of great moment to secure Syphax against the Romans, gave her to him without consulting Hasdrubal. The latter, when he heard of it, concealed it from Masinissa out of regard for him. But Masinissa learned the facts and made an alliance with Scipio.”

 

 

Syphax in love with Sophoniba? Then he must have met her at least once. When and where can that have been. Syphax was at first hostile towards Carthage and will not visit that region at ease. Sophonisba of Carthage travelling in Numidia? That's not very likely. She may have come along at the most once with Masinissa, but Syphax and Masinissa were not friends of each other and are not easily met each other. It seems to be a very popular and romanticized form of the events. The role of Sophoniba is extended, but was that the reality?

Livy XXIX 23:
"--- Between Hasdrubal, son of Gisgo, and the king was not only the host of friendship which already spoken is when Scipio and Hasdrubal happen simultaneously arrived from Spain with him. There was also talk of a possible kinship, that Syphax would marry the daughter of Hasdrubal. To give this matter its space and time for the marriage to be determined - the girl was marriageable - Hasdrubal traveled to the king. When he saw that Syphax was kindled in desire - Numidians of all the nations are the most excessive delight in love - he let the girl come from Carthage and made haste to the wedding.

In the midst of all the other festivities, to include an official statement to the personal commitment made ​​a covenant between the people of Carthage and the king and confirmed by an oath, that they are mutually committed undertook to have the same friends and enemies.”

I rather think that it's gone the other way. The alliance between Carthage and Syphax was there first, and as a bonus there was the wife of Masinissa given to Syphax to be ratified by a personal bond. The treaty between the states gives Sophoniba now wrongly a central role.

 

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