1. A commander of the Carthaginian fleet in the first Punic war, who was sent by his
colleague Adherbal, in B. C. 249, to burn the Roman fleet, which was
riding at anchor off Lilybaeum. While Carthalo was engaged in this enterprise, Himilco, the
governor of Lilybaeum, who perceived that the Roman army on land was anxious to afford their
support to the fleet, sent out his mercenaries against the Roman troops, and Carthalo
endeavored to draw the Roman fleet into an engagement. The latter, however, withdrew to a town
on the coast and prepared themselves for defence. Carthalo was repulsed with some loss, and
after having taken a few transports, he retreated to the nearest river, and watched the Romans
as they sailed away from the coast. When the consul L. Junius Pullus, on his return from
Syracuse, had doubled Pachynum, he ordered his fleet to sail towards Lilybaeum, not knowing
what had happened to those whom he had sent before him. Carthalo informed of his approach,
immediately sailed out against him, in order to meet him before he could join the other part
of the fleet. Pullus fled for refuge to a rocky and dangerous part of the sea, where Carthalo
did not venture to attack him ; but he took his station at a place between the two Roman
fleets to watch them and prevent their joining. Soon after a fearful storm arose which
destroyed the whole of the Roman fleet, while the Carthaginians, who were better sailors, had
sought a safe place of refuge before the storm broke out. (Plb.
1.53, 54.)