Abandoned Anchors From Punic Wars Found Near Sicily

Archaeology Magazine ^ | Wednesday, July 03, 2013 | from Discovery News

[SunkenCiv]

More than 30 ancient anchors have been discovered near the small Sicilian island of Pantelleria. Leonardo Abelli of the University of Sassari says that the anchors were abandoned by the Carthaginians during the First Punic War more than 2,000 years ago. The Romans had captured the strategically located island with a fleet of more than 300 ships. “The Carthaginian ships that were stationing near Patelleria had no other choice than hiding near the northern coast and trying to escape. To do so, they cut the anchors free and left them in the sea. They also abandoned part of their cargo to lighten the ships and gain speed,” he explained. His team has also found jars that may have been thrown overboard by the fleeing Carthaginians. Two years ago, Abelli recovered 3,500 bronze coins that may have been intended to compensate troops fighting the Romans. “Near the coins we found a large stone anchor with three holes and a tree trunk. We believe they were signaling the point where the treasure was hidden,” he added.

[SunkenCiv]

Ancient Anchors from Punic Wars Found Off Sicily Jul 3, 2013 10:31 AM ET by Rossella Lorenzi

[SunkenCiv]

Sunken ships seen in ancient city of Tieion
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/sunken-ships-seen-in-ancient-city-of-tieion.aspx?pageID=238&nid=49724&NewsCatID=375

[SunkenCiv]

[GeronL]

I wonder how many will think “He said ‘punic’”- *snicker*

heh

[Paladin2]

Pubic?

[fhayek]

Who knew John Kerry was piloting swift boats way back during the Punic Wars?

[GeronL]

pubic intossicashun offsser??! My front yard ain’t pubic!!

[ConorMacNessa]

With my doughty crew of Galley-Slaves, I pressed into the very core of the Latin Republic - it is seared, seared in my memory!

Oh, and by the way, did you know I have three Purple Hearts?



America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[RedHeeler]

Good find.

[ConorMacNessa]

An excellent find indeed, SunkenCiv! Over a half century since I studied Latin, I still can't remember, or maybe never knew, why they are referred to as the "Punic Wars" rather than the "Carthaginian Wars."

No matter, "Carthago delenda est!"



America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kenny Bunk]

Very informative link, Sunk! Thanks.

Some other informative videos on the site include "Ancient Wine," and the discovery of a "Viking Sunstone on a Medieval English wreck."

The videos are narrated by a couple of nerdgeeks you will remember from Jr. High. Annoying. Amusing.

[fhayek]

LOL. And you thought that a Classical Education had gone to waste.

[onyx]

Beautiful!

[ConorMacNessa]

No, not waste. But it sure has gotten lonely up here in 3-D land! My Father used to be fond of saying "The Civilized World is a very small place."

I have come to find that here on FR, that "small place" is more densely populated than anywhere else on this planet.



America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[RitchieAprile]

why dwell in ignorance?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punic

[SunkenCiv]

The Romans lucked into a beached, abandoned Carthaginian ship, took it apart piece by piece, reproduced it in quantity, and built their first navy. Naturally, it came as a surprise to the Carthaginians. Having their asses handed to them also came as a surprise to the Carthaginians.

It should also be pointed out that the Carthaginian armies and navies were almost entirely made up of mercenaries; the aristocracy served as the leaders and rulers of the society, and everyone else was either devoted to trades and commerce or were slaves.

[TheOldLady]

That’s an amazing picture. Anchors still recognizable as such after being abandoned at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea for over 2,000 years.

Fascinating colors and growths adorn them as well. I wonder if the archeologists will try to clean them off, or preserve them as they are.

[TheOldLady]

So we’d have a Latin root for the word, “punitive?”

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks!

• Crystals 'helped Viking sailors' (For Viking fans....and others, of course).
• Did Vikings navigate by polarized light?
• Icelandic rocks could have steered Vikings
• Researchers: We may have found a fabled sunstone (Update)

[COBOL2Java]

LOL. And you thought that a Classical Education had gone to waste.

Never! And I'm sure there are a few esteemed colleagues who would stand by that comment...