- Livy puts it decently well here:
- “The elephants, towering aloft at the ends of the [Roman] line, terrified the horses not only by their appearance but by their unaccustomed smell, and created widespread panic. The infantry battle, as far as the Romans were concerned, was maintained more by courage than by physical strength, for the Carthaginians, who had shortly before been getting themselves into trim, brought their powers fresh and unimpaired into action, whilst the Romans were fatigued and hungry and stiff with cold. Still, their courage would have kept them up had it been only infantry that they were fighting against. But the light infantry, after repulsing the cavalry, were hurling their missiles on the flanks of the legions; the elephants had now come up against the centre of the Roman line, and Mago and his Numidians, as soon as it had passed their ambuscade, rose up in the rear and created a terrible disorder and panic.”
- Essentially, the Carthaginian war elephants were used as a disorienting tactic, wherein a charge occurs and ranks likely would break. Moreover, as Livy said, the Roman cavalry was generally shaken by the very presence of elephants. However, horses are spooked by the absolute weirdest things. For instance: there have been ancient accounts of horses not being spooked by rats, but merely flatulence, so perhaps that could be an explanation. However, the majority of the work that the Carthaginian elephants did was what followed this, and only as a result were the elephants able to do so. The Carthaginian elephants moved the cavalry on the wings, forcing Roman troops to deploy solely against the elephants in what has described to be a ‘hollow box.’ Not only did they do that, though, but more importantly, the cavalry was no longer protecting the flanks of the infantry. Which, as stated above, led to the ultimate goal of Numidian cavalry attacking Roman forces in the rear, and elephants ransacking throughout the mid-Roman line.
- Polybius states:
- ”There was a certain Naravas, a Numidian of high rank and full of martial spirit. He had always had that attachment to the Carthaginians which was traditional in his family, and it was now strengthened by his admiration for Hamilcar. Thinking that this was a favourable opportunity for meeting Hamilcar and introducing himself, he rode up to the camp escorted by about a hundred Numidians. Coming close to the palisade he remained there quite fearlessly making signals with his hand. Hamilcar wondered what his object could be and sent out a horseman to meet him, when he said that he desired an interview with the general. The Carthaginian leader remaining still much amazed and distrustful, Naravas handed over his horse and spears to his attendants, and very boldly came into the camp unarmed. The Carthaginians looked on in mixed admiration and amazement at his daring, but they met and received him, and when he was admitted to the interview, he said that he wished all the Carthaginians well but particularly desired the friendship of Barcas, and this was why he had come to introduce himself and offer his cordial assistance in all actions and enterprises. Hamilcar, on hearing this, was so delighted at the young man’s courage in coming to him and his simple frankness at their interview that not only did he consent to associate him in his undertakings but swore to give him his daughter in marriage if he remained loyal to Carthage. The agreement having thus been made, Naravas came in with the Numidians under his command, about two thousand in number, and Hamilcar, thus reinforced, offered battle owing to the enemy. Spendius, after effecting a junction with the Libyans, descended into the plain and attacked the Carthaginians. The battle was a stubborn one, but ended in the victory of Hamilcar, the elephants fighting well and Naravas rendering brilliant services.”
- Sources Reginald Bosworth Smith, Rome and Carthage: The Punic Wars Adrian Goldsworthy, The Punic Wars Nigel Bagnall, the Punic Wars Livy, book XXI Polybius, Histories 1 Polybius, Histories 3