I'm looking at getting this as part of a tattoo, and although I understand Punic to be almost untranslatable given the lack of sources on the language, I figured I would give it a shot and ask.
In case it is impossible, I'm aware that it is seen often in Latin, but there's several variations, is there one that fits closest to the one in my question?
Given the time period and that Hannibal's forces were heterogeneous would he have been more likely to say it in Greek or Latin? if Greek, what would be the translation?
Thank you for any information in advance.
That quote, as far I can tell, is apocryphal! Although Wikipedia renders it in Latin as aut inveniam viam aut faciam, a cursory search fails to turn up the quote in any ancient Roman source. Nor does Polybius, our earliest extant account for Hannibal's crossing, record anything like it in Greek. The closest we get is two lines in Seneca's Hercules Furens (276-7)--inveniet viam / aut faciet, "he will find a way, or he will make one"--and this is spoken by the mythological Amphitryon, not Hannibal.
Searching through Google Books, the earliest attribution of the saying to Hannibal that I could find appears in a collection of sermons published in 1711:
It is said of Hannibal, that notwithstanding of the rough rocks and craigy clefts of the Alps, yet he proceeded on his design for Italy, with his resolution, that he would either find a way or make a way. (source)
Historically, Hannibal apparently did give some sort of speech before the march. According to Polybius:
Hannibal himself now came forward and began by reminding them [=the assembled soldiers and allies] of their achievements in the past: though, he said, they had undertaken many hazardous enterprises and fought many a battle they had never met with ill success when they followed his plans and counsels. Next he bade them be of good heart considering that the hardest part of their task was now accomplished, since they had forced the passage of the river and had the testimony of their own eyes and ears to the friendly sentiments and readiness to help of their allies. He begged them therefore to be at their ease about details which were his own business, but to obey orders and behave like brave men and in a manner worthy of their own record in the past. When the men applauded him, exhibiting great enthusiasm and ardour, he commended them and, after offering a prayer to the gods on behalf of all, dismissed them, bidding them get everything ready expeditiously as they would start on their march next day. (3.44.10-3)
It seems unlikely that Hannibal was able to deliver the speech before his the entire force. Indeed, Polybius describes in a different context how the Carthaginians struggled to communicate efficiently with the various peoples that made up their armies; the easiest method, apparently, was to deal with officers of each unit and have them disseminate information to the rest of their soldiers (1.67.3-13)
Livy (21.30) also invents a speech for Hannibal, which you can read here. It's quite rousing, in my opinion.
If you have any questions about the Greek or Latin, I can try to answer them. N.b.: Punic certainly is translatable, but we possess very few examples of it being used in speech or everyday language. At best, one might try to find parallels in biblical Hebrew.