Rome\'s decline and the U.S.

[Narukami]

Indeed, I find Scipio Africanus to be the the real hero of the Punic Wars. His stedfast belief in res publica, not just as a platitude, but as a way of life that he followed, set the standard that few have been able to match.

For me, at least, it is the unbridled greed, both ancient and current, that I find most disturbing.

Perhaps I view Scipio with the proverbial 'rose colored glasses' but I find his example to be very compelling. Of course the best story about Scipio is the one about his meeting with Hannibal years after Zama.


Africanus asked who, in Hannibal's opinion, was the greatest general of all time. Hannibal replied, "Alexander ... because with a small force he routed armies of countless numbers, and because he traversed the remotest lands"

Asked whom he placed second, Hannibal said, "Pyrrhus. He was the first to teach the art of laying out a camp. Besides that, no one has ever shown nicer judgement in choosing his ground, or in disposing his forces. He also had the art of winning men to his side."

When Africanus followed up by asking whom he ranked third, Hannibal unhesitatingly chose himself. Scipio burst out laughing at this and said, "What would you be saying if you had defeated me?"

"In that case," replied Hannibal, "I should certainly put myself before Alexander and before Pyrrhus -- in fact before all other generals!"

This reply, with its elaborate Punic subtlety, affected Scipio deeply, because Hannibal had set him apart from the general run of commanders, as one whose worth was beyond calculation.

(Adrian Goldsworthy, In The Name Of Rome, c2003, page 69)

:wink:

Narukami