Archives for July 2021

Quora Question: Who do You Think is the Most Under Rated Historical Figure.

July 25, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

Mine is Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus. He was a pivotal figure in the Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage, 218–201 B.C. His father, Publius Cornelius Scipio the elder was one of the two Roman Consuls when the Second Punic War broke out in 218 B.C. He assembled several legions and took them to Massilia […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Baecula, Battle of Cannae, Battle of Ilipa., Battle of Tiinus, Battle of Zama, Battles of the Upper Baetis, Conquest of New Carthage, Gneius Cornelius Scipio, publius cornelius scipio africanus, Publius Cornelius Scipio the Elder

What Happened to the Scipio Family and Why did They Fade From History.

July 22, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

Scipio Africanus had four children, two boys and two girls. Neither of his sons had children. The elder, Publius, adopted the second son of Lucius Aemilius Paullus, who took the name Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus. He is known as Scipio Minor, and he conquered and destroyed Carthage in 146 B.C. He was married to Scipio’s […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome Tagged With: Augustus Caesar, Battle of Cannae, Battle of Carrhae, Battle of Pharsalus, Battle of Thapsus, Cornelia Major, Cornelia Minor, Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus, Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus. Aemilius Paullus, Publius Cornelius Scipio Corculum, Publius Cornelius Scipio Metellus, Publius Cornelius Scipio Serapio, Sempronia Graccha, Tiberius Gracchus

Quora Question: Did Cato the Elder Believe that the Destruction Was the Most Important Thing For Rome?

July 20, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

It would be hard to say whether Cato the Elder thought that the destruction of Carthage was more important than anything else for Rome, but it was certainly a top priority for him. Cato was in his 80s at the time of the Third Punic War which began in 149 B.C. He was a veteran […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Cato the Elder, Galussa, Masinissa, Numidia, publius cornelius scipio africanus

Why Did Hannibal Not Besiege Rome After the Battle of Cannae?

July 9, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

After the Battle of Cannae, according to the Roman historian Livy, Hannibal’s chief of cavalry, Maharbal offered to take the cavalry to Rome and besiege it. while waiting for the infantry to arrive. Hannibal turned down the offer. Maharbal commented “So the Gods don’t grant all their gifts to one person. You know very well […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Cannae, Capua, Carthalo, Hannibal, Maharbal, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus Cunctator, Tarentum

Book Review: Janus Pater by Alexander Findlay

July 8, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

The year is 60 A.D. during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero. Boudicca, the Queen of the Iceni tribe has amassed a huge army of tribal folk and is rampaging throughout Southern Britannia annihilating Roman controlled settlements. Camulodunum, Londinium and other towns have already felt her wrath. Rome’s entire presence in the British Isles […]

Filed Under: Carthage Tagged With: Boudicca, Camulodunum, Evocati, Iceni, Londinium, Suetonius Paulinus.

Was Hannibal’s Defeat Inevitable?

July 5, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

It probably was given the way he chose to conduct the war. Hannibal was spectacularly successful during the first two years of the Second Punic War, then he became ineffective. Why? Because the Romans having been burned several times finally got smart, and, under the leadership of Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucossus Cunctator, they largely stopped […]