Page "Hannibal" Paragraph 6

According to Livy, Hannibal much later said that when he came upon his father and begged to go with him, Hamilcar agreed and demanded that he swear that as long as he lived he would never be a friend of Rome.

There is even an account of him at a very young age begging his father to take him to an overseas war.

In the story, Hannibal's father took him up and brought him to a sacrificial chamber.

Hamilcar held Hannibal over the fire roaring in the chamber and made him swear that he would never be a friend of Rome.

Other sources report that Hannibal told his father, " I swear so soon as age will permit ... I will use fire and steel to arrest the destiny of Rome.

" According to the tradition, Hannibal's oath took place in the town of Peñíscola, today part of the community of Valencia, Spain.