Livy Book 30

Sophonisba

SOPHONISBA (Sophoniba Livy; the correct name is Saphanba'al), daughter of Hasdrubal (q.v. 3); she married Syphax, whom she thus won over to the Carthaginian cause. When Masinissa and Laelius overthrew Syphax (203 b.c.) Sophonisba took poison which according to the romantic story (Livy 30.12-15) was sent to her by Masinissa, now enamoured of her and unable by any other means to save her from captivity at Rome. Details of her story (e.g. that before her marriage to Syphax she had been betrothed to Masinissa) may be false, but the outline need not be questioned. H. H. S.