Posted on 02/18/2018 8:40:47 AM PST by mairdie
How Hannibal's crossing of the Alps with 30,000 soldiers was even harder than first thought as researchers find he took a perilous route on a narrow bridle path 9,500ft above sea level
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Soil containing traces of horse manure has been carbon dated to 218BC, the time of HannibalÂ’s crossing, and shows that he took the Col de la Traversette, a narrow bridle path 9,500ft above sea level that links the Guil Valley in France with the Po Valley in Italy.
Previous speculation that he took this direct route had been discounted because of its sheer difficulty, with gradients as steep as 1:3.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
The most piquant assessment of Hannibal was that he knew how to win battles, but not how to win a war.
What fun!
It is the iron will of single individuals that has shaped the world.
What an IDIOT. There’s a tunnel that goes right through the Alps there.
Story is just a tease: “The research will be revealed in Hannibal’s Elephant Army: The New Evidence on Channel 4 at 8pm next Sunday.” BBC I guess.
This is a rebus - a word puzzle - we believe to be Henry Livingston’s based on statistical comparison with random poets of the time against his body of poetry. 50 percent of the rhymes occur in other known poems of Henry’s. The solution doesn’t statistically match.
Hannibal Rebus, Weekly Museum 9 May 1795
THE name of a general famed of old,
Who caused the Romans to quake we are told;
A place where by strategem Joshua took,
As recorded we find in the sacred book;
A monster that’s said in the sea to reside,
A bird that was reckon’d unclean to the Jew,
But adored by Egypt’s idolatrous crew:
A city renowned for splendor and trade,
Situate in an island in Europe ‘tis said;
A measure that sometimes by Vinter’s is us’d,
To measure a cordial that’s sometimes abus’d;
The physician who charmed Orberus so well,
That he stole back his wife from the regions of hell:
The God who, if history and poets tell true,
Was the brother of Pluto and Jupiter too.
The initials of these, as above they appear,
Gives the name of a man to Columbia dear.
SOLUTION TO REBUS Weekly Museum 25 May 1795
HANNIBAL the great Carthagenian of old;
That caus’d the Romans to tremble (tho’ bold)
Ai the city which Joshua took!
You read it in Chapter the eighth of that book.
Mermaid, or syren, as travellers relate;
Are oft’ seen at sea - we leave them to fate;
Ibris a bird by th’ Eyptians ador’d;
By the Jews ‘twas despised, and by them abhor’d.
London’s a city, (The island’s well known,)
That’s famous in Europe for wealth and renown!
Tun, tierce, or tankard, which Vintner’s may measure,
Their cyder, or wine, at the purchasers pleasure,
Orpheus, the musician, who charm’d Oberus so well!
That he snatch’d his poor wife from th’ torments of hell.
Neptune the God of the ocean we know;
Was Jupiter’s brother, and Pluto’s also —
Th’ initials of these (as above) they will name,
HAMILTON! well known, in Columbian fame!
I just LOVE your comment!
PING
Thanks, I like to make dumb comments every once in a while.
My father was involved in the second crossing of the Alps by a military force. After the Germans surrendered in 1945, American troops, including Patton’s Ghost Troops, crossed the Alps with tanks due to worries about Tito. Tito backed off and everyone got to come home.
Those ice sculptures are in Harbin, China. I stayed there in the winter of ‘76-’77 twice en-route to a field service job hundreds of miles north in Manchuria. That was the COLDEST place I’ve ever to. 40 years ago, Harbin was the most depressing place on earth with the communists firmly in control. Everybody wore dog fur hats and cheap, heavy Mao-style outer coats, either in dark gray or dark blue. There was no joy or happiness there.
It is really refreshing to see these ice sculptures in Harbin. What a change in such a short time when the yoke of tyranny is (somewhat) lifted from people.
...and looks like there was a fair amount of poo in that valley...
Me too. I can just imagine Hannibal saying stuff like “If you guys don’t stop fighting I’ll turn this whole thing around any nobody gets and wenches or plunder. You hear me?’’ “Honestly, you guys drive me nuts!’’
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