The First Punic War
The Ancients

The First Punic War

B2Upper-intermediateSeptember 13, 20261h 1m
  • Interview
  • History

How did the Romans ambush a massive Carthaginian fleet from behind a Sicilian island to win one of history's fiercest sea battles? For over 20 years, Rome and Carthage fought a brutal war for supremacy over Sicily. Tristan Hughes is joined by Carthage expert Dr. Eve MacDonald to explore the epic First Punic War; a conflict defined by titanic naval clashes, lethal boarding bridges, war elephants...sacred chickens! MORE Rise of Hannibal Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify How To Survive in Carthage Listen on Apple<...

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That is what a famous ancient Greek warlord supposedly said, as he left the island of

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1:04

What a battlefield we are leaving for the Romans and Carthaginians to fight over. That is what a famous ancient Greek warlord supposedly said, as he left the island of Sicily behind him in the early 3rd century BC. His name was Pyrrhus, King Pyrrhus of Epyrhus, and those words proved prophetic. Within two decades of Pyrrhus sailing away,

1:27

Sicily would be the central battleground for the first great war between Rome and Carthage, the first Punic War. Lasting more than 20 years, this war would witness brutal city sieges and titanic naval battles as the two major powers of Western Mediterranean came to blows again and again. War elephants, warship drawbridges, sacred

1:55

chickens, this story has it all. Welcome to The Ancients, I'm Tristan Hughes, your host, and this is the story of the bloody and brutal First Punic War, the struggle for Sicily, with ancient historian and The Ancients fan favourite, Dr. Eve McDonald. Eve, great to have you back on the show.

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