07-20-2007, 06:33 AM
Pyrrhus first encountered elephants at the battle of Ipsus, where he fought on the losing Antigonid side. He obtained his 20 elephants for his Italian expedition from his wars against Demetrius according to Pausanias, in which case they were likely to be Indian. Plutarch also reports 20 elephants.
The late writer Justinus reports that Ptolemy Ceraunus contributed 4,000 horse, 5,000 foot and 50 elephants to Pyrrhus' cause for two years and married his daughter to Pyrrhus,( the marriage is certainly incorrect) which if true might mean Pyrrhus had the smaller North African elephants. A couple of Italian depictions dated to Pyrrhus' invasion seem to show Indian elephants.
On balance therefore, Indian would seem to be the most likely.
The late writer Justinus reports that Ptolemy Ceraunus contributed 4,000 horse, 5,000 foot and 50 elephants to Pyrrhus' cause for two years and married his daughter to Pyrrhus,( the marriage is certainly incorrect) which if true might mean Pyrrhus had the smaller North African elephants. A couple of Italian depictions dated to Pyrrhus' invasion seem to show Indian elephants.
On balance therefore, Indian would seem to be the most likely.
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
