Punic

views updated May 29 2018

Punic of or relating to ancient Carthage; the word comes from Latin Punicus (earlier Poenicus), and ultimately from Greek Phoinix ‘Phoenician’.
Punic faith a term for treachery, from the character attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans.
Punic Wars three wars between Rome and Carthage, which led to the unquestioned dominance of Rome in the western Mediterranean. In the first Punic War (264–241 bc), Rome secured Sicily from Carthage and established herself as a naval power; in the second (218–201 bc), the defeat of Hannibal put an end to Carthage's position as a Mediterranean power; the third (149–146 bc) ended in the total destruction of the city of Carthage.