# Matho — Salammbô character guide > Matho in Salammbô by Gustave Flaubert. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Matho Hippo-Zarytus **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-feast ## Snapshot A Libyan mercenary whose obsessive love for Salammbô drives him to seize the sacred zaïmph and lead the barbarian armies against Carthage. ## Who they are Matho is a mercenary commander whose unpaid soldiers make him a natural leader of the revolt, but his fixation on Hamilcar's daughter Salammbô transforms a war over wages into a sacrilegious pursuit. He steals the zaïmph, the divine veil of Tanith, an act that makes him both king of the Barbarians and a marked man. His love and his war feed each other, and his refusal to abandon either keeps the siege of Carthage burning through the novel's middle. ## Relationships ### [Salammbô](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/salammbo) _romantic_ Matho is consumed by obsessive love and desire for Salammbô, which drives much of the conflict. ### [Spendius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/spendius) _friendship_ Spendius is Matho's cunning and manipulative ally, inciting him to action for their mutual benefit. ### [Narr'Havas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/narr_havas) _rivalry_ Matho and Narr'Havas are bitter enemies, competing for military dominance and for Salammbô's favor. ### [Schahabarim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/schahabarim) _rivalry_ Matho and Schahabarim are adversaries, with Schahabarim opposing Matho's sacrilege and obsession with Salammbô. ### [Hanno](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/hanno) _rivalry_ Hanno and Matho are direct military opponents, with Matho leading the mercenaries against Hanno's forces. ### [Gisco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/gisco) _rivalry_ Gisco, a Carthaginian general, is captured and tormented by Matho during the mercenary war. ### [Spendius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/spendius) _friendship_ Spendius is Matho's cunning and manipulative ally, inciting him to action for their mutual benefit. ### [Salammbô](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/salammbo) _romantic_ Matho is consumed by obsessive love and desire for Salammbô, which drives much of the conflict. ### [Spendius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/spendius) _friendship_ Spendius is Matho's cunning and manipulative ally, inciting him to action for their mutual benefit. ### [Salammbô](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/salammbo) _romantic_ Matho is consumed by obsessive love and desire for Salammbô, which drives much of the conflict. ### [Schahabarim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/schahabarim) _rivalry_ Matho and Schahabarim are adversaries, with Schahabarim opposing Matho's sacrilege and obsession with Salammbô. ### [Gisco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/gisco) _rivalry_ Gisco, a Carthaginian general, is captured and tormented by Matho during the mercenary war. ## In the story ### [I: The Feast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/i-the-feast) Matho is consumed by a curse from Moloch and fixated on Salammbô, showing deep disquiet and immobility as he gazes at her chariot. ### [At Sicca](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/ii-at-sicca) Matho remains in his tent until Spendius rouses him; he then mounts a horse and joins the march to Carthage. ### [V: Tanith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/v-tanith) Consumed by longing and terror, Matho steals the zaïmph despite his horror of sacrilege, then flees through Carthage bearing the veil. ### [Hanno](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/vi-hanno) Frustrated by his obsession with Salammbô, Matho threatens to kill her and accepts Narr'Havas's alliance, becoming the schalishim of the Barbarians. ### [VIII: The Battle of the Macaras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/viii-the-battle-of-the-macaras) Eager for battle, he leads the Mercenaries but arrives too late to prevent defeat; he is consumed by rage and despair. ### [IX: In the Field](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/ix-in-the-field) Matho is driven by the genius of Moloch, performing destructive acts and urging his allies to hasten, while struggling with the morale of his troops. ### [XI: In the Tent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xi-in-the-tent) Passionate and vulnerable with Salammbô, dreams of a future with her, and is called to action as his camp burns. ### [XII: The Aqueduct](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xii-the-aqueduct) Leads the Barbarians; experiences emotional turmoil upon seeing Carthage and thinking of Salammbô. ### [XIII: Moloch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xiii-moloch) Divides the Mercenary army into semicircles to encompass Carthage for the siege. ### [XIV: The Pass of the Hatchet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xiv-the-pass-of-the-hatchet) Leads the desperate defense of the town, sallies out against Hamilcar's camp, captures Hanno, and later fights naked and berserk before hurling himself into the pikes. ### [XV: Matho](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xv-matho) Paraded through Carthage, tortured, and finally killed; his heart is offered to the sun. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/matho - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters