Scipio Africanus, Publius Cornelius, << SKIHP ee `oh af` rih KAN uhs, PUHB lee uhs kawr NEE lee uhs >> (236?-183? B.C.), was a Roman general who defeated the great Carthaginian general Hannibal in the Second Punic War (218-201 B.C.). The decisive battle took place at Zama, in northern Africa, and the Romans gave Scipio the name Africanus in honor of his victory. See Hannibal .
Scipio belonged to Rome’s wealthy and politically powerful Cornelii family. He held several important public offices. In 184 B.C., political opponents accused Scipio of bribery, and he retired from public life. He is sometimes called Scipio the Elder, to distinguish him from his grandson Scipio Aemilianus.
