[robowombat]

Aside from sheer integral interest the question here is does the study of the past provide any utility to unserstanding the present. Arguement by analogy is dubious in the study of history. The best that can be said, seems to me, is that remembering how deadly serious past collisions between different cultures have been may at least warn us of what sort of struggle we are now in. Comments?

[Jay W]

bump to the top for later reading!

[KellyAdmirer]

Very interesting reading, thanks for posting it. Hasdrubal's biggest mistake was to retreat without adequately scouting out his line of retreat first. He also should have sent separate messengers to Hannibal by different routes. From such small things are major battles won and lost.

[Bedford Forrest]

"On high ground on his left he posted the Gauls. They were useless, but the Romans could not know that."

Some things never change. Good post.

[eastsider]

In all their victories over the Romans, both Hannibal and Hasdrubal had been scrupulous about burying fallen Roman consuls and generals with full military honors. The Romans, however, cut off Hasdrubal’s head in the true spirit of brutality that had become virulent in the Roman character. They marched southward against Hannibal, who, uncharacteristically, had remained passive in front of Nero’s screening army. The first knowledge Hannibal had of Hasdrubal’s defeat was when Nero ordered Hasdrubal’s head thrown into his brother’s camp.

Brutally effective psy-ops.

[Icthus]

Good article......thanks.

[rdb3]

B² (Bumped and Bookmarked)

[Savage Beast]

"Carthage, on the other hand, treated its conquered African provinces like cash cows to be milked dry. "

Always a bad idea.

"It saw no reason to shed the blood of its sons in combat when there were men who, for a fee, would do their fighting for them."

Another bad idea.

[F-117A]

Thank you for the excellent post!

[neutrino]

Very interesting post. But I cannot help wondering whether the US is not, to some extent, placing itself in the role of Carthage. We have a volunteer army that emphasizes quality over quantity. Afghanistan is an interesting case...very few troops are being used. Our view of casualties seems similar to that of Carthage.

And if we're Carthage, who might Rome be? China, perhaps?

[Fish out of Water]

*Index Bump

[livius]

Plus ça change... A wonderful and clear summary of a very complicated situation/battle. Thanks for posting.

Nero decided to treat the intercepted letters as genuine. But, possessed of this vital knowledge, and assuming it to be true, what to do with it?

I think we're at this point. Remember this: Cartago delenda est.

[Savage Beast]

I found this very interesting, Wombat. I have never before studied much about the Punic Wars, and I was curious. --SB

[Prodigal Son]

Good post!

[SunkenCiv]

A Blast from the Past, thanks to the "Rome" keyword.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[MinuteGal]

Thanks for the history. If you're doing more, please put me on your ping list.

Years ago, someone was posting famous historical battles, but after a while they disappeared.

These ancient clashes are captivating to me.

Leni

[Eaker]

Great read!

Thanks!!

[MattinNJ]

phenomenal post

[tang-soo]

... a solemn oath before the gods of Carthage ...

Evidently this was baal - Hannibal is translated as "the joy of baal".

[Lx]

Wow, that was a good read!
Thanks for posting it.

[dc27]

Too bad Hannibal didn't sack Rome when he had the chance. His delay in sacking Rome allowed the Romans to defend the city.

Great post