A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

19. An officer who was sent by Hannibal, in 212 B. C., with a force of 1000 horse and 1000 foot, to the defence of Capua, when the Romans began to threaten that city. According to Livy, Bostar was associated with him in the command. Though they made several vigorous sallies, in which their cavalry were often victorious, yet they were unable to prevent the Romans from completing their fortified lines around the city, which was thus entirely blockaded. Famine soon made itself felt, and the

populace of the city became discontented; but the Carthaginian governors contrived to send tidings of their distress to Hannibal, who hastened to their relief out of Lucania. But though Hanno and Bostar seconded his efforts, by a vigorous sally from the city against the Roman camp, while Hannibal attacked it from without, all their exertions were in vain; and the daring march of Hannibal upon Rome itself having proved equally ineffectual in compelling the consuls to dislodge their troops from before Capua, the fall of that city became inevitable. Under these circumstances, the Campanians endeavoured to purchase forgiveness, by surrendering into the hands of the Romans the Carthaginian garrison, with its two commanders, B. C. 211. (Liv. 25.15, 26.5, 12; Appian, Annib. 36-43.) Appian (l.c.) carefully distinguishes this Hanno from the son of Bomilcar [No. 16], with whom he might have been easily confounded: the latter is distinctly mentioned as commanding in Lucania after the siege of Capua had commenced.