Calling All The Heroes

It's mid-afternoon. I'm standing on the terrace of the temple of Diana Tifatina.
Remember it from my last blog?

If you ever stand here you'll never forget the view of the valley for  about 40 miles, from the left to the right, the Vesuvius, Caserta, the isle of Capri, St. Maria Capua Vetere (the ancient Capua), Capua and the Aurunci mountains sloping toward the sea.


Did a great general stand in this same place to survey his vast army camped in the plain below?
Non vedete che la luoga di heroi? A place for heroes?
I ask the question but the answer already hangs in the air:
'Si piu di uno'.

So its back to the History books. Am I right? Will I find any proof? Or am have I just watched too many war films? Time to forget about sixth sense and come to my senses I tell myself.



Yet I'm right! Quite soon I find the name of a general who I'm reliably informed stood in just this place to plan his campaign as he watched his forces below. A name that has been endured for over 2000 years. And will endure for some more. A name that you will be familar with. Hannibal. One of the greatest military strategists in history. He has been called 'the father of strategy' by the military historian, Theodore Ayrault Dodge.. He became Rome's greatest enemy and to defeat him, Rome was forced to adopt many of his tactics. He stands alongside Alexander The Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, Rommel and Eisenhower.


Hannibal (247-183/181 BC) was indeed one of Rome's deadliest enemies. He was born in the great ancient city of Carthage in north Africa. At the time theses great empires were battling for control of the Mediterranean sea and the lucrative trade that was conducted there. He had surprised the Romans by crossing the Alps into Italy with 36 elephants in the depths of winter. He went on to win huge victories at Trebia, Lake Traasiene and Cannae. During the latter battle he distinguished himself as the great strategist, displaying his knowledge of both the strengths and weaknesses of his opponent and employing his unique strengths to achieve victory. This enabled him to win over many former allies of Rome. He occupied Italy for over 15 years before being defeated on the plains of Zama in 202BC. But this was not in Italy, but back in  h is homeland of Africa.


So how did this  great general come to be in Capua?
The great Roman historian, Livy, tells us that he 'had marched the Campanian district towards the lower sea with the view of attacking Neapolis (Naples) so that he might have a city accessing the sea'.
{'The History of Rome, Book 23}
Capua had defected to Hannibal after his famous victory at Cannae in 216BC and he had made Capua his winter quarters in 215 BC and conducted his campaign from there. During this campaign he had camped on Mount Tifata,, east of Capua. Yes!

So how long was he up there?
Only three days it seems. After this short pause he challenged the Romans to fight him, although outnumbered by them 2:1. Although the battle did not produce any decisive results, the Romans withdrew from Campania.

Research done. Books closed. Its early morning. I want to return to the temple of Diana Tifatina. To tell the spirits that they were right: more than one great general stood there.Who was it? Well that's another story another day.