Note that the Hebrews were constantly reminded of not burning their children to
moloch, who is another local god (local since worshipped locally)
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Omar Kusturica
Sent: 06 April 2015 15:50
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Annibaliana
Yes, this is one of those rare occasions on which I will take the trouble to
check the origin of a name. (Don't tell JL that I did that.)
Means "grace of Ba'al" from Phoenician hann "grace" combined with the name of
the god BA'AL<http://www.behindthename.com/name/ba02al>. Hannibal was the
Carthaginian general who threatened Rome during the Second Punic War in the 3rd
century BC.
Ba'al was a Phoenician deity which, as Ba`al
Hammon<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba%60al_Hammon>,had a strong cult at
Carthage, which as we might know originated as a Phoenician colony. However,
Hannibal himself seems to have been devoted to Melqart:
Hannibal<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal> was a faithful worshiper of
Melqart: the Roman historian Livy<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livy> records
the legend that just before setting off on his march to
Italy<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy> he made a pilgrimage to
Gades<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A1diz>, the most ancient seat of
Phoenician worship in the west. Hannibal strengthened himself spiritually by
prayer and sacrifice at the Altar of Melqart. He returned to New
Carthage<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartagena,_Murcia> with his mind focused
on the god and on the eve of departure to Italy he saw a strange vision which
he believed was sent by
Melqart.[7]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melqart#cite_note-Livy-7>
A youth of divine beauty appeared to Hannibal in the night. The youth told
Hannibal he had been sent by supreme deity, Melqart, to guide the son of
Hamilcar<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilcar_Barca> to Italy. “Follow me,”
said the ghostly visitor, “and see that that thou look not behind thee.”
Hannibal followed the instructions of the visitor. His curiosity, however,
overcame him, and as he turned his head, Hannibal saw a serpent crashing
through forest and thicket causing destruction everywhere. It moved as a black
tempest with claps of thunder and flashes of lightning gathered behind the
serpent. When Hannibal asked the meaning of the vision Melqart replied, “What
thou beholdest is the desolation of Italy. Follow thy star and inquire no
farther into the dark counsels of
heaven.”[7]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melqart#cite_note-Livy-7>
Of course, these are polytheistic religions so these cults are not mutually
exclusive.
O.K.
On Mon, Apr 6, 2015 at 3:34 PM, Redacted sender
Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx<mailto:Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx> for DMARC
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
In a message dated 4/5/2015 6:47:20 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
"Well, the novels came first, which I haven't read, but I understand it is
a name from his Lithuanian ancestor, Hannibal the Grim."
Well, here we seem to have a case of rigid designation! (alla Kripke).
My interest is melodramma, and Salieri has an "Annibale in Capua" (1801),
which is better than much that Mozart ever wrote! The original plot (or
'trama', as Italians call it) concerns the Battle of Capua, during the Punic
War, fought by Annibale (trust the Italians to drop the Phoenician "H", which
went "out of fashion" soon after Romolo founded Roma), in 211 a. C.. at
Capua, Campania, Italia. The battle ended with the capture of Capua by the
Romans. The good characters (dramatis personae) are Quintus Fulvio Flaccus,
and Appio Claudio Pulcher, the bad ones are Hannibal, Bostar, and Hanno, son
of Bomilcar.
"Hannibal" is a given ("and taken", as Geary adds -- "what's the good of
giving a name if you are not going to take it?") name of
Phoenician/Carthaginian origin. Its continued use in later times and cultures,
up to the
present, is mainly due to the historical fame of Carthiginian General Hannibal
(247–183/182 BC), who fought the Roman Republic in the Second Punic War
It must have inspired Harris, who has a summer house in Sag Harbour, Long
Island.
In an interview, Harris explained it all -- "But I misplaced that
interview, somewhere", Geary adds).
Harris was born in Jackson, Tennessee, and moved as a child with his family
to Rich, Mississippi.
Harris was introverted and bookish in grade school.
Harris attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he majored in
English.
While in college, Harris worked as a reporter for the local newspaper, the
Waco Tribune-Herald, covering the police beat.
Harris later moved to New York City to work for the Associated Press until
1974 when he began work on Black Sunday.
Cheers,
Speranza
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