The Alps of Hannibal
The Alps of Hannibal 2 Volume Set Series

Controversial for centuries, the route across the Alps taken by Hannibal, his Carthaginian army and his famous elephants in 218 BCE formed the basis of an extended scholarly dispute between William John Law (1786?1869) and Robert Ellis (1819/20?85). Fought in the pages of books and the Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology, their exchanges lasted several years. Ellis' Treatise on Hannibal's Passage of the Alps (1853) and An Enquiry into the Ancient Routes between Italy and Gaul (1867) are also reissued in this series. Published in 1866, this two-volume work was Law's major contribution to the debate, examining the various theories and historical accounts. Modern scholarship has questioned, however, whether either man was right. Volume 2 examines the writings of Livy, comparing them to those of Polybius and determining which of the two can be deemed to be the more reliable. Law then draws his final conclusions.

Part VIII. Knowledge of the Alps in Early Times: 1. Strabo on the Alps; 2. The Salassian hyperbasis of Strabo; 3. The Taurinian hyperbasis of Strabo; 4. Polybius knew no Taurinian hyperbasis; 5. The Po and the Doria of Strabo; 6. The Po and the Doria of Strabo (cont.); 7. Mr Ellis on the early use of the Little Mont Cenis; 8. Mr Ellis on the Little Mont Cenis; 9. Mr Ellis on the Mont Cenis; Part IX. Interpretation of Livy: 1 Introduction; 2. March from the Isère; 3. The march continued; 4. Druentia is the Durance; 5. Identity of tracks is disproved; Part X. Two Peculiar Theories: 1. Theory of M. le Comte de Fortia d'Urban; 2. Of M. Replat; Part XI. Conciliation Fails: 1. We must select between the two historians; 2. Livy founds his hypothesis on the words of Cincius; 3. No writer prior to Livy favours his hypothesis; Part XII. Cause of Doubt: 1. Doubt has come through neglect of Polybius; 2. Arnold recognised the truth; Appendix.