The Battle of the Egadi Islands was fought between the navies of Rome and Carthage on March 10th, 241 B.C. The Roman fleet, commanded by Gaius Lutatius Catulus, had 200 ships. The Carthaginians fleet, commanded by Annon, had 100, many of them Roman ships that had been captured in previous clashes. Rome won this one. It was the decisive naval battle of the First Punic War, and Rome’s victory ensured its long-term domination of the Mediterranean.
Sicily’s Superintendency of the Sea has worked with deep divers and maritime archaeologists for more than 15 years to explore the Egadi seabed and recover artifacts from the battle. Armor, pottery and weapons have been found, including numerous Montefortino type helmets, and an unprecedented number of vicious bronze battering rams (rostra) both sides mounted to the prows of ships.
I was just in Sicily. We had a very good guide, an old guy in his 70s that owns his own farm, growing capers on another small island off Sicily. It's a unique place: in history, whoever controlled Sicily, controlled the Mediterranean, from ancient civilizations up through recent history. Several empires have ruled it, and prehistoric inhabitants lived there even before they made it over into Europe. Fascinating place. Terrific food. We saw the little cafe where Michael Corleone meets his future father-in-law, and also the church where he married his Italian bride, in the movie. 'Godfather' tours to all the shooting locations are a 'thing' there, something I never would have thought.
ReplyDeleteThe dude dropped it and anything else heavy a swam to safety.
ReplyDeleteNever seen what they used for padding in sword age helmets, or morions.
ReplyDeleteI wondered if there was a head in it when it sank all the way down...
ReplyDeleteThe helmet looks a bit uncomfortable. It probably came in handy for a fight, though.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lie !! Roman propaganda. I did not lose. Admiral Annon Y. Mous
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