Hannibal Alp crossing site calculated

[guy]

Where did Carthaginian General Hannibal cross the Alps with his elephants in 218 BC?

This study concludes that Col de la Traversette (pictured above and below) is the most plausible route Hannibal used to cross the Alps, based on detailed energy‑expenditure modeling for soldiers, horses, and elephants.

Note: The Col de la Traversette is a mountain pass, not a peak. It’s a high crossing in the Cottian Alps, at about 2,950 meters (9,678 feet) above sea level, right on the modern French–Italian border. A pass is a natural corridor or saddle between mountains that allows travelers to cross from one valley to another. Traversette is particularly steep and narrow, which is why it matches ancient descriptions of Hannibal’s crossing: snow at the summit, a treacherous descent, and a gorge where ambushes could occur.

 

 

 

Researchers developed a comprehensive bioenergetic and movement-ecology model for Hannibal’s army, including infantry, cavalry, and elephants. This model thoughtfully combines physiological energy consumption with terrain slope details, elevation profiles, and historically accurate marching speeds, offering a detailed understanding of their logistical capabilities.

They then applied this model to four proposed Alpine passes—Col de la Traversette, Col du Clapier, Col de Montgenèvre, and Col du Mont Cenis—running full‑army simulations to estimate total energy expenditure across each route.

By combining ancient sources from Polybius and Livy with modern terrain analysis, the team showed that Traversette required the least total energy and was the only pass short and efficient enough for elephants to cross without starving.

Traversette is 11–19% more energy-efficient than the other options — a significant advantage when moving elephants and tens of thousands of men through snowy and steep landscapes. That's why only Traversette makes it possible for elephants to successfully cross the terrain described by Polybius.

The model’s favorite route closely matches the descriptions kept by Polybius and Livy, mentioning a narrow gorge near the top, a high pass covered in snow, a steep and risky descent into Italy, a region with pale or “white” rock, and an exciting ambush spot that made the most of the tight terrain. These story details seem to fit best with the physical features of the Cottian Alps, especially the high elevation and unique geology of the Col de la Traversette, which at nearly 9,700 feet, aligns perfectly with the old accounts of snow, visibility into Italy, and the tough descent that made Hannibal’s army create a new path for the elephants.

 

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2612764123

 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 08:02 PM by guy

[guidoLaMoto]

The energy efficiency POV is one way of looking at it, but there's two problems with the logic:

Hannibal had little advanced scouting intelligence for him to decide on a "most energy efficient" route, and the intelligence he did rely on from the indigenous tribesmen may have been deceitful disinformation advanced by those who weren't happy with his intrusion into their territory-- Note that they seemed to have deliberately led him into a very tight passage and ambushed his entourage.

What do you get when you cross a parrot with a gorilla? ...I dunno, but when it talks, you better listen....What did Hannibal get when he crossed The Alps with his elephants?...Anyone?..Buehler?