7. Son of Hamilcar (perhaps the Hamilcar who was opposed to Regulus [HAMILCAR, No. 7]), was chosen by the Carthaginians, as a distinguished naval officer and a friend of their admiral, Adherbal, to command the squadron destined for the relief of Lilybaeum in the 15th year of the first Punic War, B. C. 250. That city was at the time blockaded by the Romans both by sea and land ; but Hannibal, sailing from Carthage with fifty ships to the small islands of the Aegusae, lay there awaiting a favourable wind; and no sooner did this arise, than he put out to sea. and spreading all sail, stood straight into the harbour of Lily baeum. before the Romans could collect their ships to oppose him. He thus landed a force of 10,000 men
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besides large supplies of provisions; after which, again eluding the Romans, he repaired with his fleet to join that of Adherbal at Drepanum. His name is not mentioned as taking part in the great victory of that commander over P. Claudius in the following year (249), though it is probable that he was present, as immediately afterwards we find him detached, with a force of thirty ships, to Panormus, where he seized the Roman magazines of corn, and carried them off to Lilybaeum. (Plb. 1.44, 46; Diod. Exc. Hoeschlel. 24.1; Oros. 4.10.)