What's in a name? HANNIBAL

Several WAISers sent messages saying that no one knows why Hannibal, Missouri was so named. From Mexico, Alejo Orvañaos gives us hard information on Hannibal Hamlin's name: "...Hannibal Hamlin owed his classical name to his grandfather Eleazer Hamlin, a man well read in history, who named his first son after the Roman general Scipio Africanus (everyone called the boy Africa) and called his twin sons Cyrus, after the great Persian conqueror, and Hannibal, after the Carthaginian general who crossed the Alps on elephants in his campaign against Rome....See http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/hannibal_hamlin.pdf ". RH: Poor Africa! He must have been teased as a boy.

Cyrus, as in Cyrus Vance, is a respected name since Cyrus is a hero in two traditions. In Iranian history he is the great hero, "Cyrus the Great, King of the Persians" (599-530 BC). He was born in Persis, modern Pars province, and he established his capital in Persepolis. not far from Shiraz, the present capital of the province. When I visited the ruins of Persepolis it was terribly hot. WAIS reported in 1971 on the lavish ceremonies the Shah staged there to mark the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of the monarchy. World leaders were housed in tents. I hope the weather was mild. Xenophon described Cyrus as an ideal leader, and Heredotus as also a great conqueror. He overthrew the ruling Medes. He conquered the Iranians who opposed him, so I cannot understand why the name Iran is preferred to Persia, which is dismissed as a Western name. Nushin Namazi could explain this. He conquered Lydia (Turkey) and then Babylonia. He invaded central Asia, where he was killed by nomads. He served as a model for Alexander the Great, who suffered a similar fate. He is the great hero in Iranian history textbooks, but what do Iraqi textbooks say bout him?

Cyrus is also a hero for the Jews. Nebuchadnezzar in 586 destroyed the temple and led the Judeans into Babylonian captivity. When Cyrus conquered Babylon in 538 he allowed them to return home, as related in the very last verses of Chronicles II. While we are on this business of names. let us not forget Eleazer, as in Hamlin. Eleazar fought against the Seleucids, whose army introduced elephants into fighting. Eleazar stabbed one in the abdomen and killed it, but ut fell on him and killed him. It was a crushing blow.

Note that the early Americans favored Old Testament names, following the practice Cromwell and co, no doubt influenced by their friends the Jews of Amsterdam. Jehovah was the Lord of Hosts, giving divine blessing to Cromwell's exploits.