PHILÆNI, were two brothers, citizens of Carthage, who sacrificed their lives for the good of their country. At the time when the Carthaginians ruled over the greatest part of Africa, the Cyrenians were also a great and wealthy people. The country in the middle betwixt them was all sandy, and of an uniform appearance. There was neither river nor mountain to distinguish their limits; a circumstance which engaged them in a terrible and tedious war with one another. After their armies and fleets had been often routed and put to flight on both sides, and they had weakened one another pretty much; and fearing lest, by and by, some third people should fall upon the conquered and conquerors together, equally weakened, upon a cessation of arms they made an agreement, "that upon a day appointed deputies should set out from their respective homes, and the place where they met one another should be accounted the common boundary of both nations." Accordingly, the two brothers called Philæni, sent from Carthage, made all dispatch to perform their journey. The Cyrenians proceeded more slowly. These last, perceiving themselves a little behind, and turning apprehensive of punishment at home for mismanaging the affair, charged the Carthaginians with setting out before the time; made a mighty bustle upon it; and, in short, would rather choose anything than go away outdone. But whereas the Carthaginians desired any other terms, provided only they were fair, the Greeks made this proposal to the Carthaginians, "either to be buried alive in the place which they claimed as the boundary to their nation, or that they would advance forward to what place they inclined upon the same condition." The Philæni accepting the offer, made a sacrifice of themselves and their lives to their country, and so were buried alive. The Carthaginians dedicated altars in that place to the memory of the two brothers. These altars, called Are Philanorum, served as a boundary to the empire of the Carthaginians, which extended from this monument to Hercules's Pillars, which is about 2000 miles, or, according to the accurate observations of the moderns, only 1420 geographical miles. It is Sallust who gives this account in his history of the Jugurthine war.