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How did an inscription at the Temple of Juno help Polybius describe Hannibal’s army?

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Marble statue of Polybius seated with one arm raised, draped in classical robes, against a blue sky in Vienna, Austria. The base is inscribed with the name Polybius. — Polybius Polybius, statue in Vienna.

The historian Polybius utilized an inscription left by Hannibal to obtain detailed figures regarding the composition of the Carthaginian army during its campaigns in Italy.1

Polybius discovered this inscription at the Temple of Juno, which was located on the Lacinian promontory. By consulting this primary source, he was able to provide precise data on Hannibal's troop formations, which served as a reliable foundation for his historical account.1