Syphax (Ancient Greek: Σύφαξ, Sýphax;[1] Punic: 𐤎𐤐𐤒, SPQ)[2][3][4] was a king of the Masaesyli tribe of western Numidia (present-day Algeria) during the last quarter of the 3rd century BC.

He then attacked the rival tribe of eastern Numidians, the Massylians, ruled by King Gala, who at that time were allied to the Carthaginians.

When Gala died in 206 BC, his sons Masinissa and Oezalces [fr] quarreled about the inheritance, and Syphax was able to conquer considerable parts of the eastern Numidian kingdom.

After the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio was victorious in the Battle of Ilipa (206 BC), he sent his friend Gaius Laelius to visit Syphax to ratify the treaty with Rome.

In fact he arrived at the Numidian harbor at exactly the same time as Hasdrubal Gisco (who had fled from Spain) anchored there on his way back to Carthage.