Livy records that Hannibal married a woman from Castulo, a powerful Iberian city allied with Carthage.

[2] Silius suggests a Greek origin for Imilce, but Gilbert Charles-Picard argued for a Punic heritage based on an etymology from the Semitic root m-l-k ('chief', 'king').

According to Silius, during the Punic wars Hannibal tearfully sent Imilce and their son back to Carthage for their safety.

Some historians have questioned the historicity of this event and suggested that it is an imitation of Pompey sending his wife away to Lucca for her safety during military conflict.

[citation needed] Imilce is honored in Baeza, Andalusia with a statue as part of the Fuente de Los Leones (meaning Fountain of the Lions).