Peter Jones

Ancient and Modern – 4 April 2003

A classicist draws on ancient wisdom to illuminate contemporary follies

issue 05 April 2003

Commentators are complaining that the Iraqi army is refusing to confront the coalition forces head-on. Very sensible of them. Quintus Fabius Maximus (charmingly known as Verrucosus, ‘covered in warts’) would have applauded.

In 218 bc Hannibal brought his Carthaginian army (complete with elephants) from north Africa, across Spain and southern France, and over the Alps down into Italy.

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