Carthaginians and Romans: Seeing Hannibal off to the Alps

WE ARRIVED LATE ON DAY FIVE, and so, regrettably, missed the lighting of the fiesta flame (Friday), the founding of the city (Saturday(, the destruction of Sagunto by Hannibal, which initiated the war (Sunday), the wedding of Hannibal and Imilce (Monday), and the ceremony of the Oracle of Tannit (Tuesday). Maybe another year.

We did make it to the Great Roman Circus on Wednesday. It was mostly carnival events, but there were some exceptionally well-choreographed small-scale Roman-Carthaginian combats.

On Thursday we witnessed the arrival of the Carthaginians by boat. The photo is a view of the port from the parapet of the castle (the the 13th-century Castillo de la Concepción). The video is of the troops' arrival.

That evening, Hannibal negotiated terms with the mercenaries.

Then there was the amazing parade through the city, sending Hannibal off to the Alps for his invasion of Italy.

No elephants were in evidence, but we left before the end of the very long parade, so perhaps they brought up the rear.

Background here.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.