Mathos

Mathos (, ; , Máthōs; died BC) was a Libyan from the North African possessions of Carthage and was recruited into the Carthaginian Army during the First Punic War (264–241 BC) at some point prior to 241 BC. Mathos's date of birth is unknown, as are most details of his activities prior to his coming to prominence as a low-ranking officer in 241 BC.

After the First Punic War, Carthage attempted to pay its soldiers less than the full amount due to them before demobilising them. Mathos came to the fore as a member of the army most vocal in resisting this decision, and when the disagreement broke down in full-scale mutiny he was elected a general by his comrades and became their de facto leader. Mathos spread the news of the mutiny to the main African settlements under Carthaginian suzerainty and they rose in rebellion. Provisions, money and 70,000 reinforcements poured in. For three years Mathos led the rebels in an increasingly bitter struggle with several changes of fortune. Eventually the remnants of the rebellion were brought to battle near Leptis Parva and defeated. Mathos was captured and taken to Carthage, where he was dragged through the streets and tortured to death by its citizens.