Numismatic and History Discussion Forums > Greek Coins Discussion Forum

Collecting Post-Alexander coins

<< < (2/3) > >>

LordBest:
I thought Carthage was independant from any of the successors?
                                     LordBest. 8)

AlexB:
It was certainly under Macedonian control.

'Cyrene, the capital of the ancient North African kingdom of Cyrenaica, submitted to Alexander soon afterwards, extending his dominion to the lands of the city of Carthage, where his troops set up a ruling aristocracy (and from whom ultimately the great General Hannibal would emerge to test the Roman Empire some 200 years later)'

So by whom....anyone?

Think Ptolemy or Cassander? ???

curtislclay:
       What is your source?  In Der kleine Pauly, Oxf. Class. Dict., and Historia Numorum, there is no word of Carthage ever being ruled by Alexander.
       You say Alexander's troops set up the ruling aristocracy that later produced Hannibal.  But acc. to OCD p. 208, a Carthaginian general  Hamilcar was defeated at Himera in 480 BC, for which his grandson HANNIBAL took revenge by destroying Himera in 409.  That is 150-75 years before Alexander, yet HAMILCARS and HANNIBALS were already prominent in Carthage!

ember:
Hi,
Justin 12.13.1-2

"While he was on his way back to Babylonia from the remote shores of the Ocean, Alexander was brought word that his arrival in Babylonia was awaited by embassies from Carthage and the other African states, and also by embassies from Spain, Sicily, Gaul, and Sardinia,..."
(from "Historical Sources in Translation   Alexander the Great" by Waldemar Heckel and J C Yardley)

Seems strange they would be sending diplomats if they were already conquered?

Darcy

AlexB:
I think you are right -

'When Alexander completed his conquest they sent letters of congratulations and gifts - although fortunately for them Alexander didn't turn his attention to them.  Alexander was apparently planning on an expedition against Carthage and Italy, but died of a fever before completing his preparations.  The question of whether or not he could have been successful is moot, however it would have been a different sort of war than the Persian conquest.  Carthage would not likely collapse after a defeat or two, Alexander was short on manpower (he was forced to reorganize his phalanxes with only the front three ranks being Macedonians, the remainder Persian and other levees) and how the naval conflict would resolve is unknown.  Rome and Carthage were allied at this time, and the Romans were fond of saying that if Alexander had gone west instead of east he would not be known as "The Great". '

That answers that then

Thanks

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page