20.3
Titus, however, who had been sent by the senate as ambassador to the court of Prusias on some other business,According to Livy (xxxix. 51), Hannibal’s presence in Bithynia was part of Rome’s complaint against Prusias. and saw that Hannibal was staying there, was incensed that he should be alive, and although Prusias made many fervent intercessions in behalf of a man who was a suppliant and familiar friend, would not relent. There was an ancient oracle, as it would appear, concerning Hannibal’s death, and it ran as follows:— Libyssan earth shall cover the form of Hannibal. Hannibal thought this referred to Libya and a burial at Carthage, and believed that he would end his days there;
20.4
but there is a sandy tract in Bithynia on the sea-shore, and on its border a large village called Libyssa. Near this village Hannibal was living. But he had always distrusted the weakness of Prusias and feared the Romans, and therefore even before this time his house had been provided with seven underground exits leading from his own chamber. These ran in different directions beneath the surface of the ground, but all had secret issues far away.
20.5
Accordingly, when he now heard of the behest of Titus, he set out to make his escape by way of the underground passages, but encountered guards of the king, and therefore determined to take his own life. Some say that he wound his cloak about his neck and then ordered a servant to plant his knee in the small of his back, pull the rope towards him with all his might until it was twisted tight, and so to choke and kill him; some, too, say that he drank bull’s blood in imitation of ThemistoclesCf. the Themistocles, xxxi. 5. and Midas;
