Battle of Zama

[CBR]

Polybius only mentions that it was Hannibal's left flank that was disrupted by the out of control elephants. Besides, the drivers had the means of killing a rampaging elephant. I don't think the Carthaginian right was terribly hindered by the elephants but still they were send into quick flight. So they must have been horribly outclassed, outnumbered or ordered to give ground.

I just checked Polybius and Livy and both mentions elephants causing disorder on the right wing too:

Polybius 15:12

..while others fled towards the right and, received by the cavalry with showers of javelins, at length escaped out of the field. 5 It was at this moment that Laelius, availing himself of the disturbance created by the elephants, charged the Carthaginian cavalry 6 and forced them to headlong flight.

Livy 30:33

..these elephants also put to flight even the cavalry of the Carthaginians posted in their right wing. Laelius, when he saw the enemy in disorder, struck additional terror into them in their confusion.

But it does seem like the left flank took the biggest hit from the elephants.

It is also interesting to note that from both Polybius and Livy we get an impression not of a low quality first line as such but more of lightly armed soldiers and skirmishers. So perhaps we should not see the first line as a (low quality) heavy infantry line ala Hastati but more of a strong Velites like line meant for making the Romans go forward.


CBR