Himilco
(equivalent in Punic to
gratia Milcaris, “the favour of
Milcar”). The Greek form is
Ἱμίλκων. The name of
several Carthaginians.
1.
A Carthaginian commander, who is said by Pliny (ii. 67) to have been
contemporary with Hanno the navigator. He was sent by his government to explore the
northwestern coast of Europe. A few fragments of this voyage are preserved by Avienus
(
Ora Marit. i. 90), in which the Hiberni and Albioni are mentioned, and also
a promontory, Oestrymnis, and islands called Oestrymnides, which are usually considered to be
Cornwall and the Scilly Islands.
2.
A Carthaginian, who took Agrigentum in 406, and commanded in the wars with Dionysius I.,
tyrant of Syracuse, B.C. 405-368. Himilco was an able and successful general. He took Gela,
Messana, and many other cities in Sicily, and at length besieged Syracuse by sea and land,
but was finally defeated by Dionysius, who burned most of the Carthaginian vessels ( Diod.
Sic. bks. xiii. and xiv.). Hamilco, in his despair, ended his life by voluntary
starvation.
3.
A supporter of the Barcine party at Carthage (
Livy, xiii. 12).
He was sent by the Carthaginian government to oppose Marcellus in Sicily (
Livy, xxiv. 35 foll.
Livy, xxv. 23 foll.).
