Mago

Mago Barca (, ; 243–203BC) was a Barcid Carthaginian who played an important role in the Second Punic War, leading forces of Carthage against the Roman Republic in Iberia and northern and central Italy. Mago was the third son of Hamilcar Barca, was the brother of Hannibal and Hasdrubal, and was the brother-in-law of Hasdrubal the Fair. Little is known about his early years, except that, unlike his brothers, he is not mentioned during the ambush in which his father was killed in 228 BC. Name The name Mago was a common masculine given name among the Carthaginian elite. It meant "Godsent". The cognomen or epithet means "thunderbolt" or "shining". It is cognate with the Arabic name Barq and the Hebrew name Barak and equivalent to the Greek Keraunos, which was borne by contemporary commanders. It had been used for Mago's father Hamilcar and is used to distinguish his three sons from others who shared their names.