This didn't work, because the Roman Scipio, suspecting that the elephants could only charge in a straight line, ordered his men to get out of their way. The Kingdom of Bohemia was built by Slavs who lived near what is Prague in the Czech Republic today. Students of ancient climate and ecology have tried, too. Archaeologists in Spain have discovered the lost battlefield where the legendary Hannibal won his first great victory before his march on Rome. Hannibal was a Carthagian general and political leader. Sep 11, 2016 - Hannibal Barca was a great Carthaginian general, known for fighting against Rome during the second Punic war. The idea that Hannibal lost all but one of his elephants crossing the Alps is false, although it admittedly has a basis in a more complicated reality. The evidence is a Carthaginian coin, struck in the time of Hannibal, that bears an unmistakable image of an African elephant. The Celts were amassing forces to invade farther south in Italy, presumably with Carthaginian backing. He probably collected them from all over. What did the Egyptians think of Cleopatra? This was reported at the … Hannibal’s trek through the Alps was quite the … elephant who seems to be going shopping. How Did the Egyptians Bore Through Granite? Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! How many elephants made it across the Alps with Hannibal? Hannibal Barca was a great Carthaginian general, known for fighting against Rome during the second Punic war. Supplying them with enough food across the Alps seems to have been a major problem for Hannibal, and after Polybios' account, he managed to get them across "in a wretched condition from hunger" [Pol. He was returning from a successful campaign against the Vaccaei and t… Asian animals had no idea what we were till we walked up and slaughtered them. Pyrrhus (of Epirus and Macedon), Alexander’s cousin, used 20 elephants c.280 BC against the Romans. If he had had a choice, Hannibal would presumably have gone into battle with Indian elephants, which had been used effectively a century before in charging against the forces of Alexander the Great. Coins are often valuable to archeologists, and here it is about all historians have - a coin and a story told after the Second Punic War. Hannibal was a politician after his defeat in the Second Punic War, … I've read that Hannibal Barca's elephants were African forest elephants rather than the African or Indian elephants that most people think of when you mention elephants.. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there exists countless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts that have yet to be discovered and explained. Historians speculate that a few small elephants could have been brought down the Nile Valley into Egypt, or by the Red Sea, and then bred in captivity, but there is apparently no record of this. Gold Mask of Mysterious Sanxingdui Culture Inspires Memes, Ancient Submerged Factory Reveals A Maya Salt Currency, Aethelthryth: The Extraordinary Medieval Virgin Queen and Saint, The House of Borgia: Family Of Great Renown, Wealth And Corruption, Jewel-Capped Teeth and Golden Bridges: 14,000 Years of Dentistry, Edgar Cayce, Six-fingered Giants and the Supernatural Creation Gods of Atlantis: Part 1, Nabu: Ancient Mesopotamian God of Scribes and Wisdom, Matariki: Mythology, Astronomy and Warring Gods of the Maori New Year. One of Hannibal’s most notable achievements occurred around 218 BC. 47 Ronin: The Samurai Warriors that Sought to Avenge the Death of their Master, The ancient origins of the legendary griffin, The Curse of Tutankhamen’s Tomb – Part 1, The hydraulic telegraph of Aeneas – long-distance communication of antiquity, Vimanas: Greater Understanding on a Hotly Debated Topic. there is no mystery, Hannibal used the African Pygmy Elephants, there are now extinct, maybe he is to blame... At Ancient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. Being large creatures that need a great amount of sustenance, it is likely that any journey transporting elephants would have been complicated, and would require much advanced planning. It is also the reason Indian elephants are seen tramping through fictional Africa in old Tarzan movies. Hannibal fought his first major battle, not against the Romans, but facing instead the combined forces of three Celtiberian tribes in northwest Spain, the Olcades, the Vaccaei, and the Carpetani. During his war with Rome, the ancient sources say that Hannibal marched his army across the Alps in just 16 days with 37 war elephants in tow. Plutarch narrates that Hannibal had a high opinion of Pyrrhus - and it is speculated that he may have read Pyrrhus' manual on generalship. Ten amazing inventions from ancient times, Medical Mystery of Usermontu: Why the Discovery of 2,600-Year-Old Knee Screw Left Experts Dumbfounded. III.55]. He was born in 247 BC and became the commander of Carthagian forces in Spain after succeeding his father Himlicar Barca in 221 BC. Egypt and Carthage enjoyed good relations in those days. It has not been determined whether Hannibal used Asian elephants, African elephants, or a combination of the two. This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Thoth’s Storm: New Evidence for Ancient Egyptians in Ireland? Nobody can quite agree on where Hannibal got his elephants from. And won a 'pyrrhic' victory. Mr. Ager noted that an adult male African elephant eats some 400 pounds of vegetation a day. ARCHEOLOGISTS have tried. ( Wikipedia). But how did he handle 37 elephants? Because the Ptolemies of Egypt, successors to Alexander, were known to have seized some Indian elephants as booty in their campaigns in Syria, it seemed likely that some descendants of those elephants had found their way to Carthage. It may never be known for sure exactly where Hannibal’s elephants came from. There are two subspecies of the African elephant – the forest and the savannah elephant. These elephants were somewhat small, standing eight feet tall at the shoulders, and may not have been as useful for military purposes. Hannibal lived in Carthage, which is present-day Tunisia, located on the Mediterranean. Looking at the characteristics of each type of elephant may provide insight into which species would have been preferable for Hannibal’s needs. from a small forest subspecies of elephants located in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria. All my life I’ve been fascinated by faeries, as I grew up with European fairy tales, Walt Disney’s Tinker Bell and movies like Darby O’Gill and the little people. Lovelock Cave: A Tale of Giants or A Giant Tale of Fiction? These were smaller animals, standing about 8 feet tall at the shoulders in contrast to the 11-foot-tall sub-Saharan animals. His favourite elephant was one named "Surus" which means "the Syrian." Many historians believe a likely source of Hannibal's elephants could have been the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria. People love to debate the topic of Vimanas. Pyrrhus (of Epirus and Macedon), Alexander's cousin, used 20 elephants c.280 BC against the Romans. Therefore, the Romans preemptively invaded the Po region in 225 BC. He is perhaps best known for his crossing of the Alps to wage war on Rome. While this is cited as evidence that at least one of Hannibal’s elephants was Asian, it does not generally lead to a conclusion that all of his elephants were Asian. Mold Gold Cape is the finest piece of prehistoric gold-working in Europe, Chinampas, The Floating Gardens of Mexico, Blythe Intaglios: The Impressive Anthropomorphic Geoglyphs of the Colorado Desert, The Kingdom of Bohemia: European Jewel and the Heritage of Czechs. Answer to: Where did Hannibal get his elephants? She has earned... Read More. they had already dwindled to the two species extant today, the Indian, or Asian, elephants and the African ones. Derek Ager, a geologist, wrote an article casting doubt on all of the proposed sources of Hannibal's elephants. Unfortunately, soon after this battle a severe ice storm hit northern Italy and all but one of the elephants perished. In conclusion, this question will never be answered. Mr. De Beer, citing the story of Surus, concluded, ''It is therefore almost certain that Hannibal's elephants included at least one Indian. Hannibal dealt the Romans under Scipio several crushing defeats but ultimately failed to seize Rome itself. More than 2,200 years after the young general Hannibal led an army of 40,000 men, 9,000 horses and 37 elephants from North Africa, through Spain and … Gavin de Beer, of the British Museum of Natural History wrote about these elephants, describing them as smelly and loud, and stating that they were highly dangerous when they charged.  ETRURIA COINS OF THE GENERAL DEPICTS HIM AND HIS ELEPHANT, AS A DEDICATION FOR HIS ABILITY TO WIN BATTLES AGAINST ROME, WHILE ROME WAS AN ENEMY TO THE ETRUSCAN PEOPLE, AND SOON DESTROYED THEM AFTER CARTHAGE HAD BEEN DESTROYED.. His name has been one used to incite fear over the centuries, and he remains well-known for his highly strategic military tactics. Imagine a frozen lake which, upon melting each year, reveals the unnerving sight of the remains of more than 300 people. Presumably these animals would have been just as difficult to train and would have been less imposing in warfare. He Broke Boulders with Fire and Wine or Vinegar. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. HANNIBAL WAS NO DOUBT A BLACK AFRICAN GENERAL FROM THE NORTH AFRICAN COUNTRY OF CARTHAGE, TODAY'S TUNISIA. At the time, the young Punic general was fresh from having been appointed commander-in-chief of the Carthaginian army in Iberia following the assassination of his brother-in-law, Hasdrubal the Handsome, the previous year. In a bold attempt to take the war directly to Rome, the Carthaginian general Hannibal marched an army across the Alps and into northern Italy. She believes that only by understanding where we come from, can we truly understand our life path and purpose. By most accounts Hannibal's invasion force in 218 B.C., assembled in Spain, included 100,000 men and 37 or 38 elephants. Nor is there any record of the large African species being indigenous to North Africa in the time of Hannibal. In 218 BC Hannibal decided to out-wit the Romans, and set off with an army of 100,000 men and 37 war elephants. Hannibal is best remembered as the Carthaginian commander who marched 40 war elephants across the Alps to crush Rome and according to a new report from Caraca-Driebes Archaeological Team, the National Museum of Roman Art and the Spanish Geological Mining Institute (IGME) details how two years prior to this the 27 year old led an army of 25,000 men, and 40 war … Hannibal did have one more advantage, the massive stables of Carthage were emptied and 80 war elephants would form Hannibal’s front line. Believed to have been formed over 2000 years ago, the Nine... Advances in technology have drastically changed the way we live today compared to those of our ancient past. In a quest to join up with anti-Roman allies, Hannibal led 100,000 troops and 40 elephants on a treacherous journey through the Alps . By 220 B… Ancient Indian Flying Machines –Truth in the Legends? The history of Hannibal Barca , one of the greatest military commanders of the ancient world, is one which has fascinated historians and generals throughout the last two millennia, and yet his final... Spanish university students trying to retrace Hannibal’s war march through northeastern Spain found a huge buried moat with ancient objects in it. In addition to the North African elephant Siddharth Sheth mentions there is also some weak evidence to suggest that Hannibal got some of his elephants from Syria. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Confusion arises because these elephants would not have been smart to use in the war because they were very small and smelly. Most people know that Hannibal invaded Italy with war elephants by crossing the Alps. He lived from 247 to c. 182 BC. Or from south of the Sahara, the bush habitat of the larger African species? Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. In any case, Hannibal got all his Elephants safely across the river. This was meant to divide Hannibal's troops and supplies and make it difficult for his army to organize a counter-attack, but Hannibal, having anticipated deceit by the Centrones, had arranged his army with elephants, cavalry and baggage in front, while his hoplites followed in the rear. It may be that Hannibal collected his elephants from different areas. Only one of the elephants survived the war, it seems. Hannibal had the advantage in infantry at around 36,000 to Scipio’s 29,000 and initially had more cavalry at 4,000 but a last minute reinforcement by Masinissa brought Scipio’s cavalry to 6,000. Centrones forces had positioned themselves on the slopes parallel to Hannibal's army and used this higher ground to roll … Many historians believe a likely source of Hannibal's elephants could have been the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria. Ancient Origins’ readers were recently delighted with the news that Hannibal’s first battlefield, fought on the river Tagus in Spain in 220 BC has finally been found . Where did Hannibal get his Elephants from? While the crossing of the Alps was an incredible journey that helped to seal Hannibal’s place as one of the greatest military leaders in history, there are many mysterious aspects of the journey that have been analyzed, but never solved. African elephants can be more difficult to control, which, added to their bigger size, would make them less suitable for military purposes, and certainly less desirable for a treacherous trek across the Alps. But the terminology surrounding them may present as much of a mystery as the flying machines themselves! African animals cannot be tamed. It is believed that if given a choice, Hannibal would have chosen the Asian elephants. Elephants used for military purposes would have to be well-trained, or else they would be more of a burden than a benefit. By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. The question was raised anew in the Sept. 6 issue of New Scientist, a British magazine. Once there were elephants nearly everywhere, but by the time of Hannibal's march in 218 B.C. Carthage wasn’t exactly very near either of these areas by the ancient world’s standards, and it would’ve been quite an ordeal to obtain the animals. They are somewhat smaller in size than African elephants, and can be easier to train. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings.Â, Ancient Origins © 2013 - 2021Disclaimer - Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy - Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. However, only a single elephant survived the trek across the Alps and the war, and it is believed that this was an Asian elephant. Some historians cite a coin from Hannibal’s time that depicts an African elephant. Alps Gaul Hispania. Many troops and animals were killed while crossing the Alps, and to this day, Hannibal’s completion of this journey is revered as one of the greatest military moments in history. They were a kingdom that lasted nearly 700 years and some of their leaders rose to become Holy Roman emperors! The Megalithic Temple of Malinalco: Could these Magnificent and Complex Rock-Cut Structures Actually Pre-Date the Aztecs? What Prompted the Shellfish Extravaganza at an Iron Age Feast Site, Orkney? This is quite a distance from Asia, and from the area south of the Sahara where African elephants are found. During Hannibal’s time (247 to 183 BC), there were only two varieties of elephant in existence: Asian, and African. In any case, Hannibal got all his Elephants safely across the river. The Carthaginians had more infantry, the Romans more cavalry, but the Carthaginians hoped to turn their elephants to their advantage. Hannibal was determined to get his whole army – men and animals – across the treacherous path through the Alps. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. In the Summer of 220 B.C.E. Plutarch narrates that Hannibal had a high opinion of Pyrrhus – and it is speculated that he may have read Pyrrhus’ manual on generalship. But how did he handle 37 elephants? The pass was steeper than the others, but also the shortest distance. One of the greatest of those mysteries is where Hannibal got his pack of elephants. In his 1955 study, ''Alps and Elephants,'' Gavin de Beer, who was director of the British Museum of Natural History, wrote, ''Not only did the elephants' appearance, their smell, and the noise of their trumpeting alarm both men and horses opposed to them, but they were highly dangerous when charged, fighting with their tusks and their trunks and trampling down their opponents. But how did he get the elephants to Iberia in the first place? Some historians believe that the elephants came from a small forest subspecies of elephants located in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria. This article was taken from BBC History Revealed magazine Drawings of elephants appear on the Tassili Frescoes in the Hoggar Mountains of southern Algeria, but a recent British expedition determined that the drawings predated Hannibal. Hannibal was determined to get his whole army - men and animals - across the treacherous path through the Alps. The fact that Hannibal took war elephants with him in his attack on Rome–and crossed with them over the snowy Alps–is usually the first and only thing that people know about Hannibal. Jared Diamond has proved this. Their commander Hannibal marched his troops, including cavalry and African war elephants, across a high pass in the Alps to strike at Rome itself from the north of the Italian peninsula. African animals evolved alongside humans and regard us as evil monkeys. This journey was originally planned by Hannibal's brother-in-law Hasdrubal the Fair, who became a Carthaginian general in the Iberian Peninsula in 229 BC. Soon the Romans became aware of an alliance between Carthage and the Celts of the Po Valleyin Northern Italy. Some historians believe that Hannibal used a smaller species of African elephant, which would have fared better through the narrow passes, but still would have needed 100 kilograms of feed each day. This was the elephant Hannibal himself had often ridden. In-class Assignment: Hannibal and Elephants [chaoticblackcat], [honorstudent2016], [berossusofbabylon] The Most Likely Route and Why - [honorstudent2016] Rome had met its match when Hannibal utilized war elephants in battle during the second Punic War. Recent surveys and soil samples, indicating deposits of manure from a large force now have many experts looking at Col de la Traversette as the likely pass Hannibal chose. Mr. Ager notwithstanding, many historians tend to accept Mr. De Beer's conclusion that most of these elephants were African, either from the Atlas Mountains or from south of the desert. In ancient military campaigns elephants hauled supplies and served somewhat the same function as modern tanks. While war elephants have commonly been used historically, it is unclear how Hannibal obtained this enormous pack elephants. Hannibal's Army Crossing the Rhone, Henri Paul Motte, 1878. The Battle of Zama was a decisive battle of the Second Punic War (also known as the Hannibalic War, or the War Against Hannibal), which was fought between Rome and Carthage. What happened to the animal afterwards is unknown, although the elephant certainly didn’t participate in any of the subsequent fighting, which led to Hannibal’s eventual defeat. Surus may have been a descendant of one of the elephants seized by the Ptolemies of Egypt during their campaigns in Syria, and brought back to Carthage. The Atlas elephants later died out as the region grew increasingly arid. 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Indian elephants are not quite as large as the African species but much more easily trained, which is why they are favored by zoos and circuses. Where Did Hannibal Get The Elephant Idea From. Elephants have a voracious appetite. They would have been Indian through trade. But no one has yet come up with a satisfactory answer: Where did Hannibal get the elephants for his heroic march across the Alps to attack the homeland of the Romans? The goal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. Prehistoric Lines Across Malta Defy Explanation: The Cart Ruts of Misrah Ghar il-Kbir, The Mysterious Secret Society of Ancient India and The Nine Unknown Men of Ashoka. But how did Hannibal, in Carthage, on the Mediterranean in present-day Tunisia, get a troop of elephants all the way from Asia? However, looking at the range for Loxodonta Cyclotis today I can't help but wonder about where Hannibal got his elephants from. And won a ‘pyrrhic’ victory. Featured image: Detail, Hannibal's Famous Crossing of the Alps with War Elephants ( Public Domain ), The Mystery of Hannibals’ Elephants – The New York Times, Hannibal’s Elephants: Myth and Reality – The History Herald, Hannibal’s Use of Elephants – Ancient Worlds, M R Reese is a writer and researcher with a passion for unlocking the mysteries of ancient civilizations. about New Site Identified For Battlefield Of Hannibal’s First Great Victory, about When Hannibal Met His Nemesis: The Battle of Zama, about Hunting Hamilcar: The Battle of the Saw Uncovered, about Espada de Anibal - The Mystery Behind Hannibal’s Magical Lost Sword, about Military Historian Discovers Hannibal’s Long-Lost Battlefield, about 2,200-Year-Old Moat with Artifacts Linked to Hannibal Unearthed in Spain, Skeleton Lake: Ancient Remains Frozen in Time in the Himalayas, The Secret Tomb of the First Chinese Emperor Remains an Unopened Treasure, Native North Americans Were Making Copper Tools in 7,500 BC. Living there at the time was a forest subspecies of the African elephants. This lone elephant was used by Hannibal to ride in triumph into the city of Capua. The bigger and ill-tempered African elephants are distinguished by their larger, fan-shaped ears, flat foreheads and concave backs. Some historians believe that Hannibal’s elephants came from a small forest subspecies that was located in the Atlas Mountains. He maintained this post for eight years until 221 BC. During Hannibal’s time, there were only two species of elephants in existence – Asian and African. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. The beast’s name was Surus, which means “the Syrian,” and this was the elephant that Hannibal himself rode. People also ask, where did Hannibal cross Alps? Hannibal crossing the Alps with War Elephants ( Source). Where did Hannibal get Elephants for his Famous battles? '', For these reasons, commenting on the small Atlas elephants, Mr. Ager said, ''I find the idea of Hannibal's using small elephants unsatisfying.''. Where Did Hannibal Get The Elephant Idea From. Living there at the time was a forest subspecies of the African elephants – now extinct. Many historians believe a likely source of Hannibal's elephants could have been the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria. Even though the North African climate was slightly wetter then and the Sahara not quite so extensive, conditions were still not conducive to transporting hungry elephants. Above, a snivelly-nosed Hannibal on a (vaguely Indian-looking?) We’re the only Pop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. For over 2,000 years, historians have argued over the route used by the Carthaginian general Hannibal to guide his army — 30,000 soldiers, 37 … World First: Dinosaur Found on Fossilized Eggs with Babies Inside! Hannibal won the battle of Trebia decisively, with Roman losses of nearly 30,000 compared to about four or five thousand lost on his side. Common Tools or Ancient Advanced Technology? '', See the article in its original context from. It is likely that Hannibal was less concerned with exactly where his elephants came from, and instead he focused more on whether they would be an asset to his military forces during the second Punic war. It’s entered our collective lore. Hannibal, Carthaginian general, one of the great military leaders of antiquity, who commanded the Carthaginian forces against Rome in the Second Punic War (218-201 BCE) and who continued to oppose Rome until his death. Quick Facts Name Hannibal Birth Date c. 247 BCE Death Date c. 183 BCE Did You Know? He lived from 247 to c. 182 BC.

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