Hannibal's total solar eclipse in 190 BCE

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Created 5941_[(_?_)]13 22 2027 [2011-04-26]

Last edited 5938_[(??)]01 29 2027 [2011-06-02]

Hannibal’s Total Solar Eclipse

Confirmed to

March 14, 190 BCE

Quoting Cassius Dio:

“Accordingly, the Romans entered the conflict well marshalled and eager, but Hannibal and the Carthaginians listless and dejected. This was owing in part to a total eclipse of the sun; for in view of the other circumstances, Hannibal suspected that this, too, augured nothing auspicious for them.”

(Cassius Dio, Roman History, Vol. II:14, p. 263; last paragraph)

		Comprehensive Listing of all (18) Solar Eclipses that may at all have been visible from Carthage during the 115 years between 256 BCE – 141 BCE [and within which years Attalus lived]
Legend: Re “the first glimmer of spring”									Legend: Re magnitude
No go									No go
Close									Close
Likely									Likely
#	Date		Type of eclipse	Maximum magnitude from the Carthage horizon Lat.: 36.85° N Long.: 10.32° E	Carthage UT time at maximum eclipse (Add +40 minutes for local solar time)	Carthage SNB local solar time at maximum eclipse	Carthage sunrise (SNB local solar time)	Comments & Considerations
1	Sep 16, - 255		Total	0.827	07:06:42
2	Jul 5, -251		Annular	0.724	04:58:19
3	Feb 9, - 243		Partial .9803	0.52		07:03:40		52% magnitude and diminishing at sunrise
4	Jun 26, - 242		Annular	0.000				This eclipse was hidden by the Carthage horizon before sunrise!
5	Jun 15, -241		Hybrid	0.781	08:28:21
6	Jul 16, -233		Annular	0.908	14:08:52
7	Nov 19, -231		Annular	0.000				This eclipse was hidden by the Carthage horizon before sunrise!
8	May 5, -229		Total	0.952	06:36:48
9	Feb 11, -216		Total	0.763	15:31:47
10	Mar 13, - 208		Annular	0.726	13:34:04
11	Mar 14, -189		Total	0.972	06:18:25	07:03:12	06:20:44	The March 14, 190 BCE eclipse is the only one that is anywhere near being a total solar eclipse AND anywhere near being timed to “the first glimmer of spring.”
12	Jul 17, -187		Total	0.89	05:19:49
13	Aug 17, -179		Annular	0.78	08:44:24
14	Dec 22, -177		Annular	0.000				This eclipse was hidden by the Carthage horizon before sunrise!
15	Jul 28, -169		Total	0.727	15:18:52
16	May 28, -166		Annular	0.000				This eclipse was hidden by the Carthage horizon before sunrise!
17	Mar 15, -162		Total	0.755	15:57:05
18	Jan 1, -158		Annular	0.594	15:30:24

Abstract:

After reading the context of Cassius Dios’ reference re Hannibal’s total solar eclipse and finding there several familiar names, most specifically Attalus, and also a number of Roman consuls which may be roughly timed by conventional lists of Roman consulships, I find that 1) the place for this total solar eclipse can be none other than Carthage in Africa, and that 2) the timing of this total solar eclipse fell “at the first glimmer of spring.”

Given those last two criteria, plus the fact that this eclipse took place at a time associated with Attalus’ life time, it becomes a relatively simple matter to finally match Hannibal’s total solar eclipse with the one and only possible solar eclipse candidate among the 18 solar eclipses that may be considered for that area during about 115 years:

There is, during that era, only one spring time solar eclipse that is reasonably close to being a total solar eclipse.

(I suspect that, most likely, the fact that Fred Espenak’s solar eclipse data is not showing this particular total solar eclipse as being a total solar eclipse at Carthage, is due to the uncertainty of the Delta T value, which may indeed be an uncertainty due to the errors inherent in conventional dating of ancient history. Cf. this link!)

Considerations:

Timing vs. Roman Consulships:

Contextual quotes re Roman Consulships (as conventionally dated) (Cf. this table of Roman Consuls) From Cassius Dio, Roman History, Vol. II
#	Quotes from the context	Consulship years per conventional listings
1	“when Lucius Veturius and Caecilius Metellus became consuls;”	206 BCE
2	“The next year Publius Scipio and Licinius Crassus became consuls.”	205 BCE
3	“Scipio, the consul, landed in Sicily and made ready to sail for Africa…”	205 BCE
4	“After this, when Gnaeus Scipio and Gaius Servilius had become consuls…”	260/254/222 & 203/202 BCE
5	“Accordingly, they sent Claudius Nero, one of the consuls, against him, and allotted to Marcus Servilius the protection of Italy. Nero, however, was unable to reach Africa, being detained by stormy weather in Italy and again in Sardinia.”	202 BCE
6	“a total eclipse of the sun…”
7	“59 It seemed to Cornelius Lentulus, the consul…”	(201 &) 199 BCE

Timing vs. Attalus and other familiar names from prior eclipse determinations:

Thus he was deposed from his command. At this same time Sulpicius together with Attalus secured Oreus through betrayal and Opus by main force. For Philip was unable to come speedily to the rescue, as the Aetolians had already seized the passes. But at last he arrived and forced Attalus to flee to his ships. Philip, however, wished to conclude a truce with the Romans, but after some preliminary discussion the peace negotiations were dropped; then Philip detached the Aetolians from their alliance with the Romans and made them his own friends instead.

Cassius Dio, Roman History, Vol. II, p. 227

The immediate contextual record (of Cassius Dio) with details re time and place of the eclipse:

So the Carthaginians sent Mago back to Italy, but appointed Hannibal general with full powers, after first deposing Hanno from his command. Hasdrubal they even voted to put to death, and finding that he had voluntarily made away with himself by poison, they abused his dead body. Hannibal, accordingly, taking over entire command, invaded the country of Masinissa, which he proceeded to devastate, and was preparing to fight against the Romans. Counter-preparations were being made by the followers of Scipio.

14 The people of Rome were regretting that they had not prevented Hannibal from sailing home, and when they learned that he was consolidating the opposition in Africa, they were again greatly terrified. Accordingly, they sent Claudius Nero, one of the consuls, against him, and allotted to Marcus Servilius the protection of Italy. Nero, however, was unable to reach Africa, being detained by stormy weather in Italy and again in Sardinia. After that he progressed no farther than Sicily, for he learned that Scipio had proved the victor. Scipio, in fact, had been afraid that Nero might be so prompt as to appropriate the glory of his own toils, and so at the first glimmer of spring, he had advanced against Hannibal, having learned that the latter had conquered Masinissa. And Hannibal, when he found out that Scipio was approaching, went to meet him. They encamped opposite each other, though they did not at once come to blows, but delayed several days; and each commander addressed his army, inciting it to battle.

When it seemed best to Scipio not to delay any longer, but to draw Hannibal into a struggle whether he wished it or not, he set out for Utica [Utica is located about 17 miles north west from Carthage / ToL,] that by creating an impression of fear and flight he might gain a favourable opportunity for attack; and thus it turned out. Hannibal, thinking that he was in flight, and being correspondingly encouraged, pursued him with his cavalry only. Contrary to his expectations Scipio resisted, engaged in battle, and came out victorious. After routing this body he then directed his attention not to pursuing them, but to their equipment train, which was on the march, and he captured it entire. This caused Hannibal alarm, and his alarm was increased by the news that Scipio had done no injury to three Carthaginian spies whom he had found in his camp. Hannibal had learned this fact from one of them, after the other two had chosen to remain with the Romans. Disheartened, therefore, he no longer felt the courage to carry on a decisive engagement with the Romans, but determined to make efforts for a truce as quickly as possible, in order that even if this attempt should not be successful, it might at least cause a temporary delay and cessation of hostilities. So he sent to Masinissa, and through him, as a man of the same race, asked for a truce. And he secured a conference with Scipio, but accomplished nothing. For Scipio avoided a definite answer as well as a harsh one, but pursued a middle course throughout, although adopting a particularly mild tone, in order to lead Hannibal into careless behaviour by pretending a willingness to come to terms. And such was the result. For Hannibal now gave no thought to battle, but was desirous of shifting his camp to a more favourable place. Scipio, gaining this information from deserters, broke camp by night and occupied the spot which was the goal of Hannibal's efforts. And when the Carthaginians had reached a valley unsuited for a camping place, he suddenly confronted them. Hannibal refused to fight, but in his efforts to pitch camp there and to dig wells he had a hard time of it all night long. Thus Scipio forced the enemy, while at a disadvantage from weariness and thirst, to offer battle in spite of themselves.

Accordingly, the Romans entered the conflict well marshalled and eager, but Hannibal and the Carthaginians listless and dejected. This was owing in part to a total eclipse of the sun; for in view of the other circumstances, Hannibal suspected that this, too, augured nothing auspicious for them. In this frame of mind they stationed the elephants in front of them as a protection. Suddenly the Romans uttered a great and terrible shout, and smiting their spears against their shields, rushed furiously against the elephants. Thrown into a panic by their charge, most of the beasts did not await their coming, but turned to flight, and receiving frequent wounds caused still greater confusion among those stationed beside them. But some of the beasts charged the Romans, whereupon the latter would stand apart so that they ran through the spaces between the ranks, getting struck with missiles and wounded from close at hand as they passed along. For a time the Carthaginians resisted, but at length, when Masinissa and Laelius fell upon them from the rear with the horsemen, they all fled. The majority of them were destroyed, and Hannibal came very near losing his life. For as he fled, Masinissa pursued him at breakneck speed, giving his horse a free rein. But Hannibal turned, and seeing him thus pursuing, swerved aside slightly and checked his course; thus Masinissa rushed by, and Hannibal got in his rear and wounded him. Thus he made his escape with a few followers.

(Cassius Dio, Roman History, Vol. II, p. 261-263)

I believe the following Latin text may pertain to this event as well, however, I’d like to study an English version of this text before being more certain…:

[4] L. Cornelius consul peractis, quae Romae agenda erant, pro contione edixit, ut milites, quos ipse in supplementum scripsisset, quique in Bruttiis cum A. Cornelio propraetore essent, ut hi omnes idibus Quinctilibus Brundisium conuenirent. item tres legatos nominauit, Sex. Digitium L. Apustium C. Fabricium Luscinum, qui ex ora maritima undique nauis Brundisium contraherent; et omnibus iam paratis paludatus ab urbe est profectus. ad quinque milia uoluntariorum, Romani sociique, qui emerita stipendia sub imperatore P. Africano habebant, praesto fuere exeunti consuli et nomina dederunt. per eos dies, quibus est profectus ad bellum consul, ludis Apollinaribus, a. d. quintum idus Quinctiles caelo sereno interdiu obscurata lux est, cum luna sub orbem solis subisset. et L. Aemilius Regillus, cui naualis prouincia euenerat, eodem tempore profectus est. L. Aurunculeio negotium ab senatu datum est, ut triginta quinqueremes, uiginti triremes faceret, quia fama erat Antiochum post proelium nauale maiorem classem aliquanto reparare.

Aetoli, postquam legati ab Roma rettulerunt nullam spem pacis esse, quamquam omnis ora maritima eorum, quae in Peloponnesum uersa est, depopulata ab Achaeis erat, periculi magis quam damni memores, ut Romanis intercluderent iter, Coracem occupauerunt montem; neque enim dubitabant ad oppugnationem Naupacti eos principio ueris redituros esse. Acilio, quia id expectari sciebat, satius uisum est inopinatam adgredi rem et Lamiam oppugnare; nam et a Philippo prope ad excidium adductos esse, et tunc eo ipso, quod nihil tale timerent, opprimi incautos posse. profectus ab Elatia primum in hostium terra circa Spercheum amnem posuit castra; inde nocte motis signis prima luce corona moenia est adgressus.

(Livy, XXXVII.4)

Fred Espenak’s illustrations re Hannibal’s total solar eclipse of March 14, 190 BCE:

Click on the pictures to go to the source and for a live interactive map!

All eclipse maps courtesy of Fred Espenak - NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center.
For more information on solar and lunar eclipses, see Fred Espenak's Eclipse Web Site:

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html

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