After being wounded during the battle to defend the city of Oroscopa from the army of Massinissa, Hiram, a Carthaginian leader, is rescued and nursed back to health by the young Roman woman Fulvia, who falls in love with him.

Carthage is threatened by the Romans, and Hiram is forced to return in secret to take away with him the woman he loves, Ophir, the daughter of Hermon, the head of the Council.

In reality, Phegor is stalling for time because he is secretly helping the enemy to ensure a position of power after the city falls.

Hiram, Tsour, Thala, and Asdrubale fight together in the battle of Birsa, but they are defeated by Scipione l'Emiliano, aided by the Numidian troops commanded by Gollussa.

Meanwhile, Fulvia, by yielding to Phegor, has managed to procure a ship, with which Sidone, Astarito, and Ophir, once they have retrieved the wounded Hiram from the battlefield, escape to the open sea.