Naravas ( Old Libyan: ''Nrbs(h)''; , ) was a

Numidia Numidia ( Berber: ''Inumiden''; 202–40 BC) was the ancient kingdom of the Numidians located in northwest Africa, initially comprising the territory that now makes up modern-day Algeria, but later expanding across what is today known as Tunis ...

n chief in the

Mercenary War The Mercenary War, also known as the Truceless War, was a mutiny by troops that were employed by Carthage at the end of the First Punic War (264241 BC), supported by uprisings of African settlements revolting against Carthaginian contro ...

of the Carthaginian state. Naravas is the Greek form of Narbal or Naarbaal.

Alliance with Hamilcar Barca

During the Punic Wars, Naravas had joined the army of

Spendius Spendius (died late 238BC) was a former Roman slave who led a rebel army against Carthage, in what is known as the Mercenary War. He escaped or was rescued from slavery in Campania and was recruited into the Carthaginian Army during the Firs ...

. During a critical time, he switched his allegiance to

Hamilcar Barca Hamilcar Barca or Barcas ( xpu, 𐤇𐤌𐤋𐤒𐤓𐤕𐤟𐤁𐤓𐤒, ''Ḥomilqart Baraq''; –228BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman, leader of the Barcid family, and father of Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago. He was also father-in-l ...

Carthage Carthage was the capital city of Ancient Carthage, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classi ...

. In 239 BC, he arrived at Hamilcar's camp with 2,000 horsemen. This probably saved the Carthaginian army from destruction. His troops pushed back the mercenaries of

Mathos Mathos ( xpu, 𐤌‬𐤈‬𐤀‬, ; grc-gre, Μάθως, ''Máthōs''; died BC) was a Libyan from the North African possessions of Carthage and was recruited into the Carthaginian Army during the First Punic War (264–241 BC) at some poi ...

, the Libyan chief, at the Battle of Bagradas River. After the battle, he took possession of the town of Utica.

Family

Naravas married the third daughter of

, the sister of

Hannibal Hannibal (; xpu, 𐤇𐤍𐤁𐤏𐤋, ''Ḥannibaʿl''; 247 – between 183 and 181 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman who commanded the forces of Carthage in their battle against the Roman Republic during the Second Puni ...

. Her name is unknown, but

Gustave Flaubert Gustave Flaubert ( , , ; 12 December 1821 – 8 May 1880) was a French novelist. Highly influential, he has been considered the leading exponent of literary realism in his country. According to the literary theorist Kornelije Kvas, "in Flauber ...

gave her the name Salammbo in his novel of that name.

References

External links

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, page 1138

3rd-century BC Berber people Ancient mercenaries Numidia Place of birth unknown Year of birth missing Mercenary War {{berber-stub