Salammbô. By Gustave Flaubert. Full Audiobook
Salammbô is a historical novel by Gustave Flaubert, published in 1862. The story is set in Carthage, immediately before and during the Mercenary Revolt (241–237 BCE). The novel's protagonist is Salammbô, a priestess and the daughter of Hamilcar Barca, the foremost Carthaginian general. The plot revolves around the theft of the sacred veil of Carthage, the Zaïmph, by Matho, a leader of the mercenaries, who is obsessed with Salammbô. The veil is an ornate bejeweled veil draped about the statue of the goddess Tanit in the sanctum sanctorum of her temple. The veil is the city's guardian and touching it will bring death to the perpetrator. Salammbô enters the mercenaries' camp in an attempt to steal the veil back.
The novel was enormously popular when first published and jumpstarted a renewed interest in the history of the Roman Republic's conflict with the North African Phoenician outpost of Carthage. Flaubert's principal source was Book I of the Histories, written by the Greek historian Polybius. The novel was praised for its style and story. Its descriptions of Carthaginian costume influenced contemporary fashions and the attention it paid to Roman North Africa inspired new interest in archaeological exploration there.
The novel is divided into seven parts, each of which is further divided into chapters. The first part, "The Feast," opens on a feast organized to celebrate the victory of the battle of Eryx, won against Rome. During the libations, the mercenaries ransack the place, spurred on by Hamilcar's absence, and the memories of the unkind and unfair way Carthage treated them throughout the war. The second part, "The Mercenaries," introduces the reader to the leaders of the mercenaries, Spendius and Matho. The third part, "The Daughter of Hamilcar," introduces Salammbô, the daughter of Hamilcar Barca, and the object of Matho's obsessive lust. The fourth part, "The Sacred Veil," describes the theft of the veil by Matho and Spendius. The fifth part, "The Battle," describes the battle between the mercenaries and the Carthaginians. The sixth part, "The Defeat," describes the defeat of the mercenaries and the death of Matho. The final part, "The Fires," describes the destruction of Carthage by fire.
In summary, Salammbô is a historical novel that tells the story of the theft of the sacred veil of Carthage by Matho, a leader of the mercenaries, who is obsessed with Salammbô, the daughter of Hamilcar Barca. The novel is set in Carthage, immediately before and during the Mercenary Revolt (241–237 BCE). The novel was enormously popular when first published and jumpstarted a renewed interest in the history of the Roman Republic's conflict with the North African Phoenician outpost of Carthage. Flaubert's principal source was Book I of the Histories, written by the Greek historian Polybius. The novel was praised for its style and story. Its descriptions of Carthaginian costume influenced contemporary fashions and the attention it paid to Roman North Africa inspired new interest in archaeological exploration there..
More: Salammbô, Gustave Flaubert, historical novel
Carthage, Mercenary Revolt, First Punic War
war, Rome, love
hate, princess, Matho
all-powerful, Zaimph, barbaric
tragic
00:00:00 1. The Feast
00:38:26 2. At Sicca
01:23:47 3. Salammbô
01:40:26 4. Beneath The Walls Of Carthage
02:17:48 5. Tanith
02:50:32 6. Hanno
03:33:27 7. Hamilcar Barca
04:53:21 8. The Battle Of The Macaras
05:33:00 9. In The Field
06:04:47 10. The Serpent
06:31:02 11. In The Tent
07:10:40 12. The Aqueduct
07:52:11 13. Moloch
09:07:42 14. The Pass Of The Hatchet
10:26:56 15. Matho
