BATTLE OF MYLAE

The First Punic War began in 264 B.C. and early on it became apparent it would be a war fought for control of Sicily. Since Sicily is an island, Carthage was confident it would win because of its powerful navy. The fact that Rome did not even have a navy Read more…

THE QUINQUEREME

The quinquereme was the dominant oared galley in the Punic Wars.  Dionysius of Syracuse is credited with inventing it. Five referred to the five oarsmen that rowed a bank of oars. It is believed that this meant two oars (the top and middle) had two men apiece and one oar Read more…

THE BATTLE OF HERACLEA

               The first battle in the Pyrrhic War was fought near Heraclea in 280. Heraclea was located southwest of Tarentum on the sole of Italian boot. The Romans camped on the other side of a river. When a scout was captured, the Romans knew Pyrrhus was nearby. Pyrrhus’ army consisted Read more…

THE STAINED TOGA

         In 282 B.C., the city of Thurii asked Tarentum to help it against the Lucanians. When the Tarentines turned them down, Thurii asked Rome. As you can imagine, the Romans were only too happy to rescue the damsel in distress. A Roman army defeated a Lucanian Read more…

THE BATTLE OF AQUILONIA

              294 B.C. was marked by raiding by both sides and several battles. One of the battles saw the Samnites taking advantage of a thick fog to assault a Roman camp. They captured the tent of the quaestor (the lowest elected official who supervised the treasury; they were sometimes assigned Read more…

PAPIRIUS VS. RULLIANUS

Here is a story from the Second Samnite War (sometimes called the Great Samnite War).  The war was from 326 – 304 B.C.E. and is considered by most historians to be Rome’s greatest challenge during its conquest of central Italy. After Neapolis (Naples) was taken in 326, the Romans went Read more…