Arms of the Libyans, Iberians, and Celts
The armour of the Libyans was Roman, for Hannibal
had armed them with a selection of the spoils taken in previous
battles. The shield of the Iberians and Celts was about the
same size, but their swords were quite different. For that of the
Roman can thrust with as deadly effects as it can cut, while
the Gallic sword can only cut, and that requires some room.
And the companies coming alternately,—the naked Celts, and
the Iberians with their short linen tunics bordered with purple
stripes, the whole appearance of the line was strange and terrifying. The whole strength of the Carthaginian cavalry was
ten thousand, but that of their foot was not more than forty
thousand, including the Celts. Aemilius commanded on the
Roman right, Gaius Terentius on the left, Marcus Atilius and
Gnaeus Servilius, the Consuls of the previous year, on the
centre. The left of the Carthaginians was commanded by
Hasdrubal, the right by Hanno, the centre by Hannibal in
person, attended by his brother Mago. And as the Roman
line faced the south, as I said before, and the Carthaginian
the north, the rays of the rising sun did not inconvenience
either of them.
