Quote Originally Posted by Kull
You really need to bring more research to the table here. Something that proves the existence of these garages, the text of the treaty which prohibits Carthage from breeding them, etc. Frankly the existence of a single "Syrian" elephant is hardly proof of a breeding program. It could just as easily have been a single animal procured through the Seleucids or Epeirote.
About the walls, at least Appian of Alexandria wrote about them (and the elies garages):
http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/appian/..._punic_19.html
and the mainland, where the citadel of Byrsa stood on the isthmus, there was a triple wall. The height of each wall was fifteen meter without counting parapets and towers, which were separated from each other by a space of 60 meter, and each was divided into four stories. The depth was ten meter.
Each wall was divided vertically by two vaults, one above the other. In the lower space there were stables for 300 elephants, and alongside were receptacles for their food. Above were stables for 4,000 horses and places for their fodder and grain. There were barracks also for soldiers, 20,000 foot and 4,000 horse.

About the text of the treaty, it imposed to Carthage 10.000 talents, her navy was limited to 10 ships to ward off pirates, and she was forbidden from raising any army without Rome's permission... that included war elephants of course.

Finally, about "the existence of a single syrian elephant", i underline that was the last surviving elephant of Hannibal's army. Doesn't mean it was the ONLY one! And if you could have such a beast (at least) wouldn't you go for more than one? If you were a general and co-leader of one of the most prosperous and developed nations in the world wouldn't you go for a 3.6m tank rather than a 2.35m? Of course I can't affirm with certainty they were breeding them instead of buying them, but neither can u say the contrary. Seems a very long route to transport such beasts regularly, especially considering their refusal to enter boats. Adding to that, the need to domesticate the animals from their youth and the 300 garages (when no more than 100 elephants were ever recorded to been used...Hannibal only took 37 from the start) make more sense to me that they were breeding and training them in Karthadast.

On a side note, Epirus is able to train Indian elephants right? Based on what historical data? I mean, historically, they bought them adults, bought them young and trained them, or they breed them in some city?