Elephants with Shields

[antiochus]

I thought I would pass this on:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/09...58512.html

[Flavivs Aetivs]

I've mentioned this a few times. Really a fascinating mosaic. I'd imagine it's early-mid 5th century, maybe around 420 or 440, as a war with a Sassanids could have easily inspired the Elephants in the Mosaics.
Does anyone know what it has been dated to?

[PMBardunias]

It could be tied to Eleazar, who famously slew an elephant during the Maccabean revolt.

1 Maccabees 6:46
"Which done, he crept under the elephant, and thrust him under, and slew him: whereupon the elephant fell down upon him, and there he died. "

[ValentinianVictrix]

I've discussed this elsewhere. Based on various monumental and other works I believe that elephants were used in the Late Roman baggage train. The drawings of the Columns of Theodosius and Arcadius show baggage elephants and there is a dyptych that also shows a baggage elephant.