Primary source · literary

Punica (Roman History, Book 8)

Appian of Alexandria

Composition

c. 160 CE

Language: greek

Reliability

literary tradition access

~350 years from events

Book 8 of Appian's Roman History, covering Rome's wars with Carthage. Strongest on the Third Punic War (chapters 67–135), where it is our principal narrative source for the siege and destruction of Carthage. Earlier sections on the First and Second Punic Wars are derivative and should be checked against Polybius where overlap exists.

Bias and reliability notes

Greek historian writing under the Antonines, ~3.5 centuries after the events. Used now-lost sources (likely including Polybius and possibly Carthaginian traditions transmitted via Greek intermediaries). Less reliable than Polybius for the Second Punic War, but indispensable for the Third Punic War, Appian's Punica is our single best continuous account of the destruction of Carthage in 149–146 BCE.

Public-domain translation

Horace White (1899) — read at Perseus →

Claims citing this source

The Treaty of 201 BCE imposed on Carthage: a 10,000-talent indemnity payable over 50 years, surrender of all war elephants and prohibition on training more, reduction of the navy to 10 triremes, return of all Roman prisoners and deserters, 100 hostages, recognition of Masinissa's expanded Numidian kingdom, and prohibitions on warfare both outside Africa (without Roman consent) and within Africa against Roman allies.

Cited at Pun. 54
Carthaginian losses at Zama were severe, perhaps 20,000 dead and a comparable number captured, while Roman losses were comparatively light.

Cited at Pun. 48
Hannibal deployed approximately 80 war elephants at the Battle of Zama.

Cited at Pun. 41