Hannibal the cannibal? Polybius on Barcid atrocities
Louis Rawlings
Cardiff Historical Papers: Vol.9 (2007)
Abstract
At the time when Hannibal planned to march on Italy from Spain with his army, it was foreseen that he would find it very difficult to feed the troops and keep them constantly provided with supplies. The difficulties of the march seemed almost insuperable both owing to the distance and to the numbers and the savagery of the barbarians in the intervening lands. It seems that the problem was more than once discussed in the Council, and that one of Hannibal’s friends, Hannibal Monomachos, stated that he foresaw only one way by which it would be possible to reach Italy. When Hannibal asked him for an explanation, he replied that he must teach his troops to eat human flesh and accustom them to this…Hannibal had nothing to say against the boldness and practicality of this suggestion, but he could persuade neither himself nor his friends actually to adopt it. They say the acts of cruelty in Italy of which Hannibal is accused were the works of this man, but due no less to those of circumstance. ~Polybius 9.24.4–8
This important passage has not received the attention it deserves, perhaps because the sensationalism of cannibalism was less appealing to earlier historians.2 It appears in Polybius’ digression on the character of Hannibal (9.22–6), and is the central example in his argument that Hannibal’s reputation for cruelty was the product not of his character, but of external factors: the bad advice of his companions and the nature of the military situation.
Louis Rawlings
Cardiff Historical Papers: Vol.9 (2007)
Abstract
At the time when Hannibal planned to march on Italy from Spain with his army, it was foreseen that he would find it very difficult to feed the troops and keep them constantly provided with supplies. The difficulties of the march seemed almost insuperable both owing to the distance and to the numbers and the savagery of the barbarians in the intervening lands. It seems that the problem was more than once discussed in the Council, and that one of Hannibal’s friends, Hannibal Monomachos, stated that he foresaw only one way by which it would be possible to reach Italy. When Hannibal asked him for an explanation, he replied that he must teach his troops to eat human flesh and accustom them to this…Hannibal had nothing to say against the boldness and practicality of this suggestion, but he could persuade neither himself nor his friends actually to adopt it. They say the acts of cruelty in Italy of which Hannibal is accused were the works of this man, but due no less to those of circumstance. ~Polybius 9.24.4–8
This important passage has not received the attention it deserves, perhaps because the sensationalism of cannibalism was less appealing to earlier historians.2 It appears in Polybius’ digression on the character of Hannibal (9.22–6), and is the central example in his argument that Hannibal’s reputation for cruelty was the product not of his character, but of external factors: the bad advice of his companions and the nature of the military situation.
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