Deepwater Sub Recovers Roman Battering Ram Used in Carthage in Punic Wars Battle
An Italian organization recovered a 2,200-year-old Roman battering ram from the Mediterranean, linked to the Battle of the Aegates, highlighting the region's archaeological significance and Roman naval dominance.
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An Italian cultural heritage organization has successfully recovered a 2,200-year-old Roman battering ram from the Mediterranean Sea, specifically from the site of the Battle of the Aegates, which was a significant naval conflict between Rome and Carthage that concluded the First Punic War in 241 BCE. The artifact, known as a rostrum, was located at a depth of approximately 262 feet (80 meters) between the islands of Levanzo and Favignana, west of Sicily. The recovery was facilitated by divers from the Society for the Documentation of Submerged Sites and the research vessel Hercules. Initial examinations of the rostrum revealed ornamental features, including a relief of a helmet and feathers. This find adds to a growing collection of ancient maritime artifacts, with 27 rostra having been discovered in the region since the early 2000s. The Mediterranean has proven to be a rich archaeological site, with recent discoveries including shipwrecks and other wartime relics, highlighting the area's historical significance during the Roman Empire. The Battle of the Aegates was pivotal, leading to the decline of the Carthaginian fleet and establishing Roman dominance in the Mediterranean.
- A Roman battering ram was recovered from the Mediterranean, dating back 2,200 years.
- The artifact was used in the Battle of the Aegates, marking the end of the First Punic War.
- The recovery was conducted by an Italian cultural heritage team using divers and a research vessel.
- The Mediterranean region has yielded numerous ancient artifacts, indicating its historical importance.
- The Battle of the Aegates resulted in significant losses for Carthage and Roman naval supremacy.
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8 commentsCarthage was much more powerful than Rome was, and Rome really had no business thinking it could have won either of those wars. Rome lost so many battles during those wars, and only survived by outright refusing to give up, and then somehow pulling it out of the bag at a key moment. This battle was one of those moments, and Zama was another in the second war (in a campaign that Scipio basically had to fund himself after failing to get the support of the senate).
There were so many moments in both of those wars where if it had gone another way, Rome could have very easily failed and become a Carthaginian vassal state. There would have been no Roman Empire, which arguably still shapes Europe to this day, and the history of Europe would have been a continent dominated by a North African empire.
Wikipedia [1] has this to say about the rationale:
> The blunt edge of the ram and the patterned protrusion were intended to break open the seams of the target ship while at the same time dispersing the force of impact on the attacking ship to prevent the ram from twisting off and damaging the attacking ship. It was also less likely to become stuck in the hull of its target.
More pictures: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=910340217792618&set=pcb....
It's only about half a meter wide by about 1 meter long (Euro-pallets measure 80 x 120 cm). From reading Asterix & Obelix albums I'd have expected something more substantial.
Peaches
4 hours ago
Maybe try posting a picture of the darned thing in use? RN it’s a pile of coral.
Yellowfoot
3 hours ago
Unfortunately, all contemporaneous photographs of the item in use were lost during the burning of the Library of Alexandria a few centuries later.Related
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