Hannibal Marches Through Iapygia
Though Hannibal shifted his quarters from time to
time for short distances in one direction or another, he remained
in the neighbourhood of the Adriatic; and by bathing his
horses with old wine, of which he had a great store, cured
them of the scab and got them into condition again. By a
similar treatment he cured his men of their wounds, and got
the others into a sound state of health and spirits for the
service before them. After traversing with fire and sword
the territories of Praetutia,
1 Hadriana, Marrucina, and Frentana, he started on his road to
Iapygia. This district is divided
among three peoples, each with a district name, Daunii [Peucetii], and Messapii. Hannibal first invaded the territory of the
Daunii, beginning from Luceria, a Roman colony, and laid the
country waste. He next encamped near Vibo, and overran the
territory of
Arpi, and plundered all Daunia without resistance.
Meanwhile Fabius, after offering the usual sacrifice to the
Fabius takes the command. |
gods upon his appointment, started with his
master of the horse, and four legions which
had been enrolled for the purpose; and
having effected a junction near Daunia with the troops that
had come to the rescue from
Ariminum, he relieved Gnaeus
of his command on shore and sent him with an escort to
Rome, with orders to be ready with help for any emergency,
in case the Carthaginians made any movement by sea. Fabius
himself, with his master of the horse, took over the command of
the whole army and pitched his camp opposite the Carthaginians, near a place called
Aecae,
2 about six miles from the enemy.