Battle between the Romans and Hannibal

Giulio Romano (after)

Summary

Chaotic battle scene dominated by armoured soldiers on horseback (the Romans) fighting their enemy sitting on four large elephants (Hannibal's army). In the foreground dead Roman soldiers and horses lie on the ground whilst cavalry and infantry men charge towards a large armoured elephant in the centre of the composition. The Roman soldiers hold a range of weapons including swords, pikes and flaming torches. A figure, Hannibal, sits astride the neck of the elephant in the centre of the image. In his left hand he holds a cross bow up above his head and steadies himself with his right hand so that he can turn to his left in a gesture of encouragement to his army, most of whom are in Howdahs on the backs of the elephants. On the left in the background an elephant walks away towards a different group of Roman soldiers brandishing pikes. To the right two more elephants move forwards towards the foreground, a smaller one is being attacked by a Roman soldier on horseback. In the Howdahs some of Hannibal's army hold crossbows and shields whilst others blow horns. The Battle Between Scipio and Hannibal at Zama, engraving,1550-1578.