Some people marveled that the Carthaginians got the elephants across the broad Rhone River in southern France. Smaller than the Asian variety,they may still have been able to carry archers,but they sometimes panicked and trampled their own infantry,an ancient version of ‘friendly fire.’ The Romans killed some,captured some others and marched them in the triumphal parades that celebrated their victories. Some of the stories are still teasingly attractive. The book has color photos of the ruins,made in a suburb of today’s Tunis. The victorious Romans got rid of Carthage’s own records,along with temples and other public institutions.
He has to quote copiously from Greek and Roman historians,some of dubious reliability and little concern with today’s ideas of fairness and entertainment. Author Richard Miles teaches ancient history at the University of Sydney,Australia,and writes here about events long past.
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