More relics of the Carthaginian defeat at the Aegates

PUNIC WATCH: Discovery of four ancient 450lb battering rams shed new light on how Rome took command of the Mediterranean 2,000 years ago by smashing through Carthage's ships (Ian Randall, Daily Mail).

• The ancient artefacts were recovered from the waters to the east of Sicily
• The rams would have been used in the Battle of the Aegates in March 241 BC
• Roman vessels surprised and outmanoeuvred the cargo-laden Carthaginian fleet
• They sunk 50 enemy vessels and captured 70 more, ending the First Punic War
• Following this, Carthage sued for peace and surrendered Sicily to the Romans

For more on the underwater archaeology of the Battle of the Aegates, with my own commentary, see here.

Cross-file under Maritime (Marine) Archaeology.

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