A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

the surname of the great Hamilcar, the father of Hanibal. [HAMILCAR.] It is probably the same as the Hebrew Burak, which signifies lightning. Niehuhr (Rom. Hist. iii. p. 609) says, that Barca must not be regarded as the name of a house, but merely as a surname of Hamilcar: but, however this may be, we find that the family to which he belonged was distinguished subsequently as the " Barcine family," and the war and democratical party as the " Barcine party." (Liv. 21.2, 9, 23.13, 28.12, 30.7, 42.)