Hannibal was a great believer in the powers of Melqart, a Carthaginian deity often equated to the Greek hero Herakles. The Roman historian Livy recorded Hannibal’s preparations before his great march into Italy, and chief among them was a visit to Gades to lay offerings at the Altar of Melqart. According to legend, Hannibal was visited in a dream on the eve of his journey - a ghostly visitor bade him follow and not look back. Hannibal’s curiosity got the better of him and on turning back he saw a great serpent destroying all in its path. He asked the spectre what this vision meant and was told it was the desolation of Rome by mighty Carthage.
