A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

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Hannibal 383
III.
The Battle of Lake Trasimene; the Greatness
OF Hannibal
(Early in the spring Hannibal crossed the Apennines
into Etruria and marched along the highway toward
Rome. Flaminius, one of the consuls, followed close behind
with an army.)
The Carthaginians now reached a place formed by nature
for an ambuscade, where Lake Trasimene comes
nearest to Mount Cortona. A very narrow passage only
intervenes, as though room enough had been left just for
ihat purpose. Then a somewhat wider plain opens, and
still farther some hills rise up. On these heights Hannibal
pitched his camp in full view, where he posted his Spaniards
and Africans under his own command. The Baleares and
his other light troops he had ranged round the mountain;
his cavalry he posted at the very entrance of the defile
conveniently hidden behind some rising ground—in order
that when the Romans had entered, the horsemen might
advance and every place be closed by the lake and the
mountain. Flaminius passed the defile before it was
quite daylight. He did not previously reconnoitre, though
he had reached the lake the preceding day at sunset.
When the troops began to spread into the wider plain, The Romans
are surrounded.
the commander saw that part only of the enemy which
was opposite him; the ambuscade in his rear and overhead
escaped his notice. And when Hannibal had his enemy
enclosed by the lake and mountain, and surrounded by
his troops, he gave the signal for all at the same time to
charge, whereupon each began to run down the nearest
way. To the Romans the event was all the more sudden
and unexpected because of a mist which had risen from the
lake, and was settHng thicker on the plain than on the
The battle
of Lake
Trasimene,
217 B.C.
Ancient
World, 383.
Livy xxii. 4.
(Slingers
from the
Baleares
Islands.)