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+--- Thread: Hannibal’s elephants and the battle of Zama (/showthread.php?tid=31416)
Hannibal’s elephants and the battle of Zama - Michael Collins - 04-08-2021
I`ve just posted my paper on Hannibal`s elephants on academia.edu.
Here`s the introduction to give you an idea...
In the late summer to early autumn of 202 BC the Second Punic War was brought to a conclusion at the battle of Zama. It was here that Publius Cornelius Scipio defeated Hannibal Barca and according to Polybius` account of the battle, with twenty thousand enemy killed and as many taken prisoner, Scipio`s victory was a crushingly decisive one; it was the knockout blow of the war.
But this victory over Hannibal was also a victory won against large numbers of the animal that had become a symbol of Hannibal’s success over Roman armies and its generals in 16 years of campaigning in Italy. Zama was also a victory over Hannibal’s elephants.
This is how the early Roman historians and their audience would have wished it to appear. Polybius` version of the battle (which is generally accepted today as the most reliable account) followed their lead, but perhaps his eyewitness (Gaius Laelius or his son Gaius Laelius Sapiens) added some tactical embellishments of their own?
In this paper I will consider the probability of the size of Hannibal’s elephant corps in the autumn of 202 BC and question Hannibal’s tactical use of his elephants in Polybius` battle of Zama and Scipio`s response to them. These points have been discussed in the past, but I will also consider the circumstances of the Zama campaign and address the environmental conditions and logistical requirements that would have affected the deployment of elephants in North Africa during the late summer to early autumn of 202 BC.
https://www.academia.edu/45983572/Hannibals_elephants_and_the_battle_of_Zama
RE: Hannibal’s elephants and the battle of Zama - Robert Vermaat - 04-10-2021
Hi Michael,
I saw you announcement on Facebook. Interesting read!
RE: Hannibal’s elephants and the battle of Zama - Michael Collins - 04-10-2021
(04-10-2021, 02:45 PM)Robert Vermaat Wrote: Hi Michael,
I saw you announcement on Facebook. Interesting read!
Thanks Robert, glad to know you found it of interest!
RE: Hannibal’s elephants and the battle of Zama - Steven James - 04-10-2021
Glad to see Michael that you are not ignoring the elephants.
RE: Hannibal’s elephants and the battle of Zama - Michael Collins - 04-10-2021
(04-10-2021, 03:03 PM)Steven James Wrote: Glad to see Michael that you are not ignoring the elephants.
No, not even if they wear sunglasses and try to look as inconspicuous as they can!
RE: Hannibal’s elephants and the battle of Zama - CaesarAugustus - 05-07-2021
Really interesting, thanks!
RE: Hannibal’s elephants and the battle of Zama - Michael Collins - 05-07-2021
(05-07-2021, 05:55 PM)CaesarAugustus Wrote: Really interesting, thanks!
Thank-you Marco!
RE: Hannibal’s elephants and the battle of Zama - dadlamassu - 05-08-2021
Just read it and found it very interesting. Thanks for the heads up.
RE: Hannibal’s elephants and the battle of Zama - Michael Collins - 05-11-2021
(05-08-2021, 12:59 PM)dadlamassu Wrote: Just read it and found it very interesting. Thanks for the heads up.
Thank-you - I`m pleased that you found it of interest!