Master of Horse

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7. This novel is dedicated to the millions of Americans who, along with their parents, have given up hope in the their American dream. They feel isolated from a society whose educational system and consequential value system has helped to deny them their true sense of self worth. The founding fathers of this country who were bent upon escaping persecution and pursuing individual freedoms for themselves did not include those whom they oppressed or destroyed. All of our children should be taught to accept historical facts whether or not those facts feed our swollen egos. We must learn to accept the shortcomings of the Fathers along with their great achievements. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." Hosea 4:6. "if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 This work is based on historic characters, events, incidents and conversations. If one iota of its contents can help inspire a child to reach for a goal our efforts will have been rewarded. It is incumbent on all of us to perform the necessary tasks to guarantee our children that their striving for a better life shall not be done in vain. When the Roman empire was reaching its zenith the entire continent of Africa was called Libya. Theword Punic, according to most etymologists, is a Roman corruption of the Canaanite word, Phoenice (Phoenicia). Egypt was called Khem by her own peoples and Mizraim by the Hebrews. Ethiopia was called Cush, or Kush. The Sudan a part of Nubia. The lands west of Egypt was called Numidia, formerly known as Phut. These peoples were some of the descendants of Ham. This is the story of some of those people. The most terrible wars fought on the Mediterranean Seas were not between Greece and Rome, nor, Persia and Greece. The most devastating conflagrations were staged between Rome and Carthage, called Qarthadasht in her native toungues. Carthage was a vibrant, thriving city-state founded on the African continent, in the heart of Numidia, around 800 B.C., or, some 50 odd years before the founding of Rome. The twain were, for all practical purposes, contemporary city-states, even though Carthage was probably originally a colony of her sister city, Tyre. These struggles were carried on for over one hundred years beginning around 264 B.C. (Q 548, 484 Anno Urbis) and ending with the destruction of Carthage in 149 B.C. Many historians have familiarized us with the military genius of Hannibal Barca of Carthage. However, we are somewhat less familiar with other Libyans who were both allied with and against the great general. This work is an attempt to illuminate the life of a man of these peoples. Prince Masinissa, Son of Gaia, was one of the most formidable adversaries to face the Romans as an ally of the Barcas. His name struck fear into the hearts of Roman citizenry as did that of Hannibal. Though this work is fiction I have attempted to share some historic facts on the man who was named byfriend and foe, Master of Horse. The lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalms 27:1.