Fig. 1 Ba’al stela from Ugarit-Ras Shamra, H. 142 cm, c. 18th-15th c. BCE, Musee du Louvre, AO 15775
That Hannibal was a great strategist, unpredictable himself yet often able to predict his enemies’ actions, has been long appreciated. This is usually all one needs to know as an answer to why Hannibal crossed the Alps. Because the Romans under Publius Cornelius Scipio at Massalia guarded the coastal route to Italy hemmed in by the Alpes Maritimes, Hannibal did the one thing for which the Romans were most unprepared, not being fond of mountains themselves as Hyde maintained, (1) and thinking themselves protected from such unlikely incursions such as Hannibal and his army made, entering Italy through the “fortress” Alps. Naturally, the Celts allied to Hannibal in and around the Alps would also be more useful if he avoided the narrow coastal corridor where Roman might and influence held sway.
But are these the only background reasons to consider when asking why Hannibal would cross the Alps? I would argue that Hannibal was predisposed to crossing the Alps for added possible philosophical reasons the practical Romans would have barely understood, hence their likely silence on this because their own names were not generally theophoric, and usually unrelated to their gods, unlike the Carthaginians and many other cultures in the Ancient Near East. Here it is important to consider Hannibal’s very name and personal history to be important as a more subtle but nonetheless substantial incentive or at least mitigating factor for crossing the Alps. There are also connections to Punic religious tradition that make more sense in reference to this possibility.

If the momentous account of Hannibal’s joining his father Hamilcar Barca is to be trusted, it is important to also consider Phoenician and Punic archaeology from Carthage. According to Polybius (Hist. 3.11.5-8), Hamilcar would only bring his son with him to Spain if the nine-year-old boy would swear eternal enmity against Rome at the Carthage altar, most likely of Ba’al and possibly of Tanit, Ba’al’s female consort, important Punic deities. Polybius specifically says the vow was made not only at the altar but that Hamilcar his father made him lay his hand on the sacrificial victim while making his oath.
As I have published elsewhere, (Studia Phoenicia XI, 1991, and in a new book Alpine Archaeology, 2007) I suggest that his very name Hannibal Barca provides him added incentive to cross the Alps. “Hannibal” means “Ba’al be gracious to me” (HNB’L-HNNIB’L) and Barca (BRQ) , his clan name means “lightning” in Punic-Phoenician. Because Ba’al is a storm god living in mountains and indeed a mountain god, Hannibal would be less daunted than others – certainly the Romans who considered the Alps as a barrier – to cross these mighty mountains.
TO READ MORE, SEE PATRICK HUNT’S NEW BOOK ALPINE ARCHAEOLOGY (2007).
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Patrick Hunt © copyright 2006
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