(1) L. Caeciliō Metellō C. Fūriō Placidō cōnsulibus Metellus in Siciliā Āfrōrum ducem cum CXXX elephantīs et māgnīs cōpiīs venientem superāvit, vīgintī mīlia hostium cecīdit, sex et vīgintī elephantōs cēpit, reliquōs errantēs per Numidās, quōs in auxilium habēbat, collēgit et Rōmam dēdūxit ingentī pompā, cum CXXX elephantōrum numerus omnia itinera complēret.
(2) Post haec mala Carthāginiēnsēs Rēgulum ducem, quem cēpērant, petīvērunt, ut Rōmam proficīscerētur et pācem ā Rōmānīs obtinēret ac permūtātiōnem captīvōrum faceret.
notes
Battle of Panormus, 251 BCE
(1) L. Caeciliō Metellō C. Fūriō Placidō cōnsulibus: ablative absolute with form of esse assumed (AG 419a). L. Caecilius Metellus and Gaius Furius Pacilius [not Placidus] were consuls in 251 BCE. Metellus was consul a second time in 247 CE, and was elected Pontifex Maximus in 243 BCE. In 241 BCE he rescued the Palladium when the Temple of Vesta was on fire (Hazzard).
cum CXXX elephantīs: i.e., belonging to the Carthaginian general
venientem: "on his arrival" in Sicily from Africa (Hazzard)
sex et vīgintī elephantōs cēpit: In 251 Metellus defeated Hasdrubal [not the famous brother of Hannibal] outside Panormus and killed or captured the whole of the Carthaginian elephant corps. The survivors were subsequently paraded at Rome (Bird).
per Numidās: "through the agency of the Numidians." The Numidians were a people of northern Africa between Mauritania and Carthage.
in auxilium: lit., "for aid" = "as auxiliaries" (Hazzard)
Regulus Sent to Rome to Solicit Peace, 250 BCE
(2) Rēgulum ducem: Regulus was captured in the Battle of Bagradas, Brev. 2.21.
ut Rōmam proficīscerētur: deponent verb (AG 190; LS proficīscor). This ut clause and the subsequent subjunctive verbs are indirect commands signaled by petīvērunt (AG 563).
permūtātiōnem captīvōrum: "exchange of prisoners-of-war"
vocabulary
Core Vocabulary | Numbers | Dates
| Metellus, ī, m. |
(1) C. Caecilius Metellus, consul 113 B.C.; (2) L. Caecilius Metellus, consul 251 B.C.; (3) L. Caecilius Metellus, consul 123 B.C.; (4) (Q. Caecilius) Metellus Macedonicus, consul 143 B.C.; (5) Q. Caecilius Metellus (Numidicus), consul 109 B.C.; (6) Q. Caecilius Metellus Creticus, consul 69 B.C.; (7) L. (Caecilius) Metellus, carried on war against Mithradates; (8) M. (Caecilius) Metellus |
|
| C. |
abbreviation of the praenomen Gaius |
|
| Fūrius, ī, m. |
the name of a Roman gens., C. Fūrius Placidus, consul 251 B.C. |
|
| Sicilia, ae, f. | the island of Sicily | |
| Āfer, Āfrī, m. |
an African, especially an inhabitant of Carthage |
|
| elephantus, ī, m. | elephant | |
| errō, āre, āvī, ātus |
to wander, stray, rove; be in error, err |
|
| Numidae, ārum, pl. m. | the Numidians | |
| pompa, ae, f. | a procession, parade, pomp | |
| compleō, ēre, plēvī, plētus | to fill (to the brim); complete | |
| malum, ī, n. | misfortune | |
| Carthāginiēnsis, e, adj. |
Carthaginian; as subst., Carthāginiēnsēs, ium, pl. m., the Carthaginians |
|
| Rēgulus, ī, m. |
(1) M. Atīlius Rēgulus, consul 267 B.C.; (2) M. Atīlius Rēgulus, consul 256 B.C. |
|
| captīvus, a, um [capiō], adj. |
captive; as subst., captīvus, ī, m., captīva, ae, f., captive, prisoner of war |