A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

6. Of Tyre, who appears to have been a friend of Hannibal. When the latter was staying at the court of Antiochus and meditated a fresh war against the Romans, he despatched Ariston to Carthage to rouse his friends there. Hannibal, however, lest the messenger should be intercepted, gave him nothing in writing. On Ariston's arrival at Carthage, the enemies of Hannibal soon conjectured the object of his presence from his frequent interviews with the men of the other party. The suspicions were at last loudly expressed, and Ariston was summoned to explain the objects of his visit. The explanations given were not very satisfactory, and the trial was deferred till the next day. But in the night Ariston embarked and fled, leaving behind a letter which he put up in a public place, and in which he declared that the communications he had brought were not for any private individual, but for the senate. Respecting the consequences of this stratagem, see Liv. 34.61, 62. Compare Appian, App. Syr. 8; Justin, 31.4.

[L.S]