About Himilco
Lived 250 BC – 212 BC (aged 37–38). Himilco was a military personnel.
Himilco was a Carthaginian general during the Second Punic War. He invaded Sicily in 214 BC, after the pro-Carthaginian tyrants Hippocrates and Epicydes came to power in Syracuse. With their assistance, and with (according to Livy) a large Carthaginian army of 20,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry, he overran large portions of Sicily, including the old Carthaginian stronghold of Agrigentum, and harried the Roman forces under Marcus Claudius Marcellus that were besieging Syracuse.
He met with considerable local support, notably due to the Roman massacre of the pro-Carthaginian population of Enna. However, an outbreak of plague in 212 BC destroyed most of his army, with himself among the fatalities.
The Romans retook Agrigentum in 210 BC.
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Important facts
People in Himilco's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Himilco's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Himilco?
Carthaginian general
When was Himilco born?
Himilco was born in 250 BC.
When did Himilco die?
Himilco died in 212 BC.
What was Himilco's occupation?
Himilco was a military personnel.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Himilco (fl. 3rd century BC)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Himilco. https://biography.guide/himilco-military-personnel/
MLA: "Himilco." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/himilco-military-personnel/.
Chicago: "Himilco." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/himilco-military-personnel/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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