Jupiter Ammon is a Greco-Egyptian deity combining the features of the king of<hr>
Egyptian gods, Ammon, master of air and fertility, and the king of the Greek gods, Jupiter,<hr>
god of the sky, light, thunder and lightning.<hr>
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                   Fifth Speech - Sophonisbe to Massinissa<hr>
                               Sophonisbe, queen of Numidia<hr>
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                                                 Context<hr>
           After, with the help of the Romans, Massinissa had reconquered the kingdom of his<hr>
ancestors and taken Syphax, who had usurped it from him, prisoner, he laid siege to and took the city of Syrte, where<hr>
Sophonisbe, wife of the captive king, had taken refuge. The allure of this beautiful woman had<hr>
a powerful effect on his heart, and as the Numidians were naturally drawn to love,<hr>
it was not long before he who was victorious realised that he was defeated. However, in<hr>
reflecting on the stern temperament of Scipion, he understood that the latter wanted this beautiful captive queen<hr>
for himself. To prevent him from that, he married her the same day, believing that after that, no one would<hr>
want the wife of a king allied with the Roman people. Hardly were these rushed nuptials<hr>
celebrated, when Scipion sent Lelius to Massinissa to ask him to honour the victory that had been given to him. However, Sophonisbe, who had a natural<hr>
aversion to the Romans and still more towards servitude, and noticing something<hr>
in Lelius's eyes that foreshadowed a bad omen, addressed Massinissa in this way as he was preparing to leave.<hr>
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                                      Sophonisbe to Massinissa<hr>
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           I can see, from Lelius's actions, that destiny continues to persecute me.<hr>
After losing in a single day my crown, my husband and my freedom, and then having<hr>
recovered, on the same day, my freedom, a husband and a crown, I feel that it's preparing to make me<hr>
lose all of that once more. Lelius, looking at me, probably judged that I would be beautiful enough<hr>
to honour Scipion and to follow his chariot. I saw in his eyes the idea he had in<hr>
mind. But he does not know my own intentions. He does not know that my desire for freedom is much<hr>
stronger than that of living, and that I would be ready to lose my life joyfully to preserve my<hr>
freedom.<hr>
           Yes, Massinissa, I know that you will have powerful enemies to face. The rigidity of<hr>
Scipion’s soul, combined with Roman hardness, is likely to disapprove of you sharply.<hr>
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