The story of Hasdrabul’s wife can be seen as a tale of exemplary wifely faithfulness. But it can equally well be seen as the story of exemplary female fearlessness and strength. Hasdrubal was commander of the Carthaginian forces during the Third Punic War, 149-146 BC. As Scipio the Younger (185-129 BC) and his Roman forces had shown themselves to be invincible, Hasdrubal chose to surrender Carthage to Scipio. Then Scipio razed the city. In despair, and to avoid the insults and humiliations of Scipio and the Romans, Hasdrubal’s wife threw herself and their two children into the flames.
Philippe Thomassin was a member of a family that expressed itself in graphics and he finally took the same path himself. In 1585, at the age of 23, he went from Troyes to Rome. The first copperplate engraving known by him is from that very year.
Nil timet ingentes flammas generosa subire / Asdrubalis coniux, ne hoste subac ta foret / Phls. Thomassinus excud. Rome / Corporis haud timor, ast animi prestatia ducit, / Et matrem, et pueros luce simul
