The Battle of the Aegates Islands (241 B.C.)

Although collaborative efforts between archaeologists and ecologists are not common, these two seemingly disparate disciplines often strive to answer the same research questions. Archaeological and ecological methods used to quantify study sites are often times complimentary and have the potential to create a much more comprehensive and cohesive synthesis.

Among the more astonishing finds recovered during the maritime survey project off W. Sicily is a series of bronze helmets and associated cheek pieces, military equipment likely in the possession of the Roman and Carthaginian combatants who fought in the Battle of the Aegates Islands in 241 B.C. The assemblage of galeae or cassides from this unique battlefield context presents a remarkable opportunity to explore the character of Roman armament during the mid-third century B.C., a critical transitory period for the Roman manipular army.

Five of the rams so far recovered during the Egadi Islands project bear Latin inscriptions; a sixth carries a Punic text. The Latin inscriptions make reference to named Roman officials (quaestors in four instances; members of a board of six in one case) who approved the rams. The Punic inscription offers a prayer for good fortune to one or more Punic deities. The Latin inscriptions are diverse in both form and content. Latin inscriptions of the third century B.C. are relatively few in number, and inscriptions on metal even less common.

In his account of the First Punic War, Polybius describes the Roman and Carthaginian fleets as largely comprised of pentēreis or “fives” (cf. Polyb. 1.63.4-9). We should expect, therefore, that a sample of 10 similar sized rams originating from the naval battle concluding this war (i.e., the Battle of the Aegates Islands in 241 B.C.) would likely come from “fives.” This seems not to be the case, however. Comparative evidence from other known rams suggests that the Egadi weapons located thus far come from ship classes smaller than “fours.” Can Polybius be wrong?

After a number of successful field seasons, the battle zone for the naval clash between the Romans and Carthaginians in 241 B.C. is becoming increasingly defined. Remains from this naval battle-site detail the events of a Roman fleet conducting a surprise attack on a Carthaginian fleet, defeating it, and bringing an end to the First Punic War in Rome’s favor. This crucial naval engagement launched Rome on a path of Mediterranean conquest and the remains of this battle provide unprecedented evidence for warship construction and fleet operations in the third century B.C.

This paper briefly presents the story of my search for the Battle of the Aegates Islands. It begins with Cecè Paladino, a great spear fisherman and "the last of the Florios" (a famous dynasty of Sicilian entrepreneurs), who in the 1960s and 70s, reported hundreds of lead anchor stocks on the seabed along the eastern part of Levanzo island, in front of sheer cliffs. After hearing these reports from Cecè, I suspected that they belonged to the Roman fleet of C. Lutatius Catulus and gave important information about the location of the famous Battle of the Aegates Islands (241 B.C.).