Hannibal
Elephants over Alps
Hannibal is a Carthaginian general (247–183 BC) famous for crossing the Alps with war elephants to invade Italy during the Second Punic War.
His name has become shorthand for audacious military strategy and tactical genius: a Hannibal-level gambit.
The name also belongs to the fictional cannibal Hannibal Lecter, whose cultured menace made having an old friend for dinner a dark joke.
Surrounding enemy forces completely
- double envelopmentTwo-sided flanking maneuver
- flankingAt the sides of
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- feintDeceptive mock attack
deception · cavalry · infantry · maneuver · guerrilla · scorched-earth · attrition · diversion
Roman general, African surname
- Punic WarsRome-Carthage military trilogy
- legionsGreat many, or armies
- ZamaAncient North African battleground
- senateLegislative governing body
republic · centurion · consul · dictator · Latin · gladius · Tiber · delaying tactics
Rome-Carthage military trilogy
- PhoenicianAncient Lebanese seafarer
- TyreHistoric Phoenician maritime center
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
- navyMaritime military force
sea power · Sicily · Iberia · Spain · colonies · commerce · Senate · African
encirclement
Surrounding enemy forces completely
- double envelopmentTwo-sided flanking maneuver
- flankingAt the sides of
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
feint · deception · cavalry · infantry · maneuver · guerrilla · scorched-earth · attrition · diversion · counterattack
Scipio
Roman general, African surname
- Punic WarsRome-Carthage military trilogy
- legionsGreat many, or armies
- ZamaAncient North African battleground
senate · republic · centurion · consul · dictator · Latin · gladius · Tiber · delaying tactics · invasion
Punic Wars
Rome-Carthage military trilogy
- PhoenicianAncient Lebanese seafarer
- TyreHistoric Phoenician maritime center
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
navy · sea power · Sicily · Iberia · Spain · colonies · commerce · Senate · African · Tunis
crossing
Point where paths intersect
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- trekArduous overland journey
- passMove beyond or decline
elephants · winter · descent · Gaul · snowstorm · terrain · navigation · altitude · frostbite · losses
war elephants
Trained elephants for combat
- cavalryMounted military force
- pachydermsThick-skinned hoofed mammals
- tusksExtended animal incisors
charge · stampede · battle · African · terror · mahout · beasts · trunk · armor · training
- 90s BooksHarry Potter, Fight Club, Jurassic Park, The English Patient, Bridget Jones
- Missouri PlacesKansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City
- Tunisian HistoryCarthage, Tunis, Punic Wars, Phoenicians, Vandals
- Northern MissouriAlbany, Bethany, Boonville, Brookfield, Cameron
- NY TownsAmherst, Babylon, Bethlehem, Brighton, Brookhaven
- ancient worldancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient Egypt, pyramids, pyramid
- Hannibal Lecter
- Hannibal BarcaCarthage's legendary military strategist
- Hannibal Lecter maskBite-prevention face cage