SYPHAX, Numidian King who worked WITH and AGAINST the Romans...
SYPHAX, Numidian King who worked WITH and AGAINST the Romans...
In my searching, I discovered that Syphax is discussed in great detail in the "Ab Urba Condita" Or "The History of Rome", I asked a fellow agent who I knew to be a Latin major for some online references to it, and I was given much more than references!
Thanks to my fellow agent, Amber Kearns (GreyJediLayne), I was given a lot more information about Syphax than I originally intended. This research is all Amber's hard work!
BCE 213- Romans approach Syphax, one of King of the Numidians, who had recently become estranged with the Carthaginians due to a conflict over a Carthaginian woman, Sophonisba, who he wished to betroth. He entered into an alliance with the Romans, who offered reward to the Numidians for their support against Carthage. Syphax took the aid of the Romans, enlisting them to help train his infantry, which was previously weak; his army had instead focused on calvary. Q. Statorius, a Roman centurion, stayed alongside Syphax to help teach him Roman strategy. The Carthaginians learned of this and approached Gala, another king of Numidia. They urged Gala to strike against Syphax before he could attempt to use Rome's support to conquer Gala's lands. Gala sent his son, Masinissa forth and, with Carthage's help, defeated Syphax soundly, rendering him less useful to the Romans. (1)
According to Appian, Syphax and Masinissa switched alliances after Sophonisba was given to Syphax by the Carthaginians. Masinissa, who had previously been set to wed the woman, entered an alliance with Scipio secretly, even as Syphax flipped against the Romans with his troops, having been trained by those they now fought. (2) Syphax was captured in battle by the Romans. He was sent to prison in Alba (3), where high importance prisoners such as kings were kept, and also the origin of Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome.
I believe if anything, his temptation away from one side to the other and the mirroring story of Masinissa is where we should focus. A betrayal story is always loved by the public, especially when it is tied to romance. This seems to be very Danteesque thing they are doing. Making a historical figure the guide..the only question is why him? Dante chose a poet, a muse of his. If this is a similar idea, why Syphax?
From Livy Book 30.13:
"As each side has sought peace and friendship from the immortal gods by sacrifices duly offered, so each side alike has sought peace and friendships from him."
1 Livy. The History of Rome, Book 24.49-.50. http://tinyurl.com/livyone
2 Appian. The Punic Wars. 2.10-12. http://tinyurl.com/glauovh
3 Strabo, Geography 5.3. http://tinyurl.com/straboshort
4 Livy. The History of Rome, Book 30.12-17. http://tinyurl.com/livytwo
[embed]http://tinyurl.com/livyone[/embed]
In my searching, I discovered that Syphax is discussed in great detail in the "Ab Urba Condita" Or "The History of Rome", I asked a fellow agent who I knew to be a Latin major for some online references to it, and I was given much more than references!
Thanks to my fellow agent, Amber Kearns (GreyJediLayne), I was given a lot more information about Syphax than I originally intended. This research is all Amber's hard work!
BCE 213- Romans approach Syphax, one of King of the Numidians, who had recently become estranged with the Carthaginians due to a conflict over a Carthaginian woman, Sophonisba, who he wished to betroth. He entered into an alliance with the Romans, who offered reward to the Numidians for their support against Carthage. Syphax took the aid of the Romans, enlisting them to help train his infantry, which was previously weak; his army had instead focused on calvary. Q. Statorius, a Roman centurion, stayed alongside Syphax to help teach him Roman strategy. The Carthaginians learned of this and approached Gala, another king of Numidia. They urged Gala to strike against Syphax before he could attempt to use Rome's support to conquer Gala's lands. Gala sent his son, Masinissa forth and, with Carthage's help, defeated Syphax soundly, rendering him less useful to the Romans. (1)
According to Appian, Syphax and Masinissa switched alliances after Sophonisba was given to Syphax by the Carthaginians. Masinissa, who had previously been set to wed the woman, entered an alliance with Scipio secretly, even as Syphax flipped against the Romans with his troops, having been trained by those they now fought. (2) Syphax was captured in battle by the Romans. He was sent to prison in Alba (3), where high importance prisoners such as kings were kept, and also the origin of Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome.
I believe if anything, his temptation away from one side to the other and the mirroring story of Masinissa is where we should focus. A betrayal story is always loved by the public, especially when it is tied to romance. This seems to be very Danteesque thing they are doing. Making a historical figure the guide..the only question is why him? Dante chose a poet, a muse of his. If this is a similar idea, why Syphax?
From Livy Book 30.13:
"As each side has sought peace and friendship from the immortal gods by sacrifices duly offered, so each side alike has sought peace and friendships from him."
1 Livy. The History of Rome, Book 24.49-.50. http://tinyurl.com/livyone
2 Appian. The Punic Wars. 2.10-12. http://tinyurl.com/glauovh
3 Strabo, Geography 5.3. http://tinyurl.com/straboshort
4 Livy. The History of Rome, Book 30.12-17. http://tinyurl.com/livytwo
[embed]http://tinyurl.com/livyone[/embed]
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