Difference between revisions of "Pyrrhus"
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| − | '''Pyrrhus''' (c. 318 BC-272 BC) became King of Epirus, in modern-day [[Greece]], in 307BC. In 280 he sailed with a force of soldiers and [[war elephant]]s to assist the Greek colony of Tarentum, in modern-day [[Italy]], against the [[Roman]]s. He won his first encounter with the Romans, on the River Siris, but so long and bloody was the battle that Pyrrhus is reputed to have said: "Another such victory and I return to Epirus alone". This was the origin of the term '[[Pyrrhic victory]]' - that is, a victory that is as damaging (or almost as damaging) to the victor as to the vanquished. Nevertheless, Pyrhhus remained for several years, fighting the Romans in Italy and [[Carthaginian]]s (in [[Sicily]]), before being decisively defeated and returning to Greece in 274 BC. There he engaged in war with [[Sparta]], and was killed in 272 BC while attacking [[Argos]], struck on the head by a roof-tile hurled by a woman of that city. | + | '''Pyrrhus''' (c. 318 BC-272 BC) became King of Epirus, in modern-day [[Greece]], in 307BC. In 280 he sailed with a force of soldiers and [[war elephant]]s to assist the Greek colony of Tarentum, in modern-day [[Italy]], against the [[Roman]]s. He won his first encounter with the Romans, on the River Siris, but so long and bloody was the battle that Pyrrhus is reputed to have said: "Another such victory and I return to Epirus alone" (See: [[Pyrrhic victory]]). This was the origin of the term '[[Pyrrhic victory]]' - that is, a victory that is as damaging (or almost as damaging) to the victor as to the vanquished. Nevertheless, Pyrhhus remained for several years, fighting the Romans in Italy and [[Carthaginian]]s (in [[Sicily]]), before being decisively defeated and returning to Greece in 274 BC. There he engaged in war with [[Sparta]], and was killed in 272 BC while attacking [[Argos]], struck on the head by a roof-tile hurled by a woman of that city. |
== See also == | == See also == | ||
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*[[Greeks]] | *[[Greeks]] | ||
*[[Plutarch]] | *[[Plutarch]] | ||
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[[Category:History]] | [[Category:History]] | ||
Revision as of 10:41, December 28, 2023
Pyrrhus (c. 318 BC-272 BC) became King of Epirus, in modern-day Greece, in 307BC. In 280 he sailed with a force of soldiers and war elephants to assist the Greek colony of Tarentum, in modern-day Italy, against the Romans. He won his first encounter with the Romans, on the River Siris, but so long and bloody was the battle that Pyrrhus is reputed to have said: "Another such victory and I return to Epirus alone" (See: Pyrrhic victory). This was the origin of the term 'Pyrrhic victory' - that is, a victory that is as damaging (or almost as damaging) to the victor as to the vanquished. Nevertheless, Pyrhhus remained for several years, fighting the Romans in Italy and Carthaginians (in Sicily), before being decisively defeated and returning to Greece in 274 BC. There he engaged in war with Sparta, and was killed in 272 BC while attacking Argos, struck on the head by a roof-tile hurled by a woman of that city.