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Siege of Syracuse: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Facts

Date 214 BCE - 212
Location Italy • Sicily • Syracuse
Participants Carthage • ancient Rome
Context Second Punic War • Punic Wars

Photos

Historical map of the western Mediterranean region during the Punic Wars, showing Carthaginian territory in orange and Roman territory in green around 270 BCE. Hannibal's route from Spain, across the Alps, and into Italy between 219 and 202 BCE is marked with a red line. Key battle sites with years are labeled throughout Spain, Italy, Sicily, and North Africa.
Grecian Ruins
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Timeline

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Battle of the Trebbia River
December 218 BCE
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Battle of Trasimene
June 217 BCE
Three-panel map showing troop movements and positions during the Battle of Cannae on August 2, 216 BCE in the Second Punic War. Roman forces are marked in blue and Carthaginian forces in red, with infantry, cavalry, and skirmishers distinguished by different symbols. The panels illustrate the Roman advance, the Carthaginian encirclement strategy led by Hannibal, and the eventual encirclement and defeat of the Roman army near the river Aufidus. Key locations such as Cannae, Hannibal's camp, and c
Battle of Cannae
216 BCE
The western Mediterranean during the Punic Wars
Siege of Syracuse
214 BCE - 212
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Battle of Ilipa
206 BCE
Battle of Zama
Battle of Zama
202 BCE

Key People

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Marcus Claudius Marcellus
Roman general [died 208 BCE]

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