Sofonisba

by Vittorio Alfieri

"Sofonisba" by Vittorio Alfieri is a historical tragedy set in 203 BCE during the Second Punic War. The play centers on Sofonisba, daughter of a Carthaginian king, caught between two rival North African rulers who both love her—her husband Siface and his enemy Massinissa. When Roman general Scipio captures them, Sofonisba faces the ultimate choice: become a Roman war prize or maintain her freedom through death. Pride, loyalty, and conflicting allegiances drive this classical tale toward its inevitable conclusion.