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Publio Cornelio Scipione “the African”

Publio Cornelio Scipione “the African” (235 a.C. – 183 a.C.) was one of the greatest ancient leader.

His father and his uncle died in 212 b.C. in Spain fighting against the Carthaginians, when they were in command of Roman legions.

After this catastrophe, by public acclaim in 212 Scipio was elected Spanish proconsul.
Despite the Carthaginian army was larger than the Roman one Scipio gained a long series of victories, thanks to his strategic intelligence and his capability in dealing with Spanish people, who decided to support the Romans.

Scipio closed the war in 206 throwing out the Carthaginians from the whole Spain.

Since this time began the clash between the conservative faction of the Roman aristocracy and Scipio. This clash gave rise to two parties, the “Ottimati” party, that along the time became more and more reactionary and the “Populares” party. For a long, long time the clash turned into a bloody guerrilla.

150 year later, at the end of the civil war, Julius Caesar definitively defeated the “Ottimati”. 

When the clash was born the Ottimati opposed Scipio in order to prevent him to fight the Carthaginians in Africa, while People and Roman allies supported Scipio.

The Ottimati were isolationist, fearing that a too great enlargement of Roman borders would have deeply changed the Roman traditions and rules, in consequence would have undermined the foundation of their power.

Moreover they were afraid of Scipio. 

On the other side People and Roman allies were confident to take possession of enormous wealth conquering the Carthaginian empire.

The Roman Senate didn’t dare to deny Scipio to fight the war against Chartage in Africa, but didn’t provide him with the necessary resources to get a suitable army and the navy.

Then Scipio asked for help the allies who gave him all the necessaries.

The second Punic war finished with the victory of Scipio (202 b.C.) and the flight of Hannibal.

The second Punic war began in 218.

Where nowadays you see the African Trophies (photo 1, 2, 3, 4), once, across the street, there was an arch dedicated to Scipio.

Near the trophies upon a column (photo 5, 6), there is the copy of the Capitoline she-wolf (the original is kept in the Capitoline Museums).

About the dating of the she-wolf since 2006 a controversy is burst. One party asserts that the she- wolfe is a IV century b.C. work, given that the ancient sources wrote about two she-wolves, one of which was the Capitoline one. The other party asserts that the she-wolf is a XIII century p. C. work, given to the radiocarbon dating.

But the radiocarbon dating is based upon the radioactive carbon which is absorbed by organic substances (wood, bones, …), and is not absorbed by metals. The she-wolf is a bronze work.

Moreover the Cicerone source wrote that the Capitoline she-wolf was hit by a lightning. The she-wolf’s front legs show damage signs.

Anyway all’s well that ends well: everybody agree that Romolo and Remo were added during the XIV century, likely by Antonio Pollaiolo.