<P> At this point ( 247 BC ) , Carthage sent general Hamilcar Barca ( Hannibal 's father ) to Sicily . His landing at Heirkte ( near Panormus ) drew the Romans away to defend that port city and resupply point and gave Drepana some breathing room . Subsequent guerrilla warfare kept the Roman legions pinned down and preserved Carthage 's toehold in Sicily , although Roman forces which bypassed Hamilcar forced him to relocate to Eryx , to better defend Drepana . </P>
<P> At this point ( 247 BC ) , Carthage sent general Hamilcar Barca ( Hannibal 's father ) to Sicily . His landing at Heirkte ( near Panormus ) drew the Romans away to defend that port city and resupply point and gave Drepana some breathing room . Subsequent guerrilla warfare kept the Roman legions pinned down and preserved Carthage 's toehold in Sicily , although Roman forces which bypassed Hamilcar forced him to relocate to Eryx , to better defend Drepana . </P>
who led carthage in the first punic war
who led carthage in the first punic war
Hamilcar Barca
Hamilcar Barca