Arif Hodzic

There was also a difference between the Roman and Carthaginian armies in terms of expenses.

The Roman army mostly consisted of Roman citizens and their allies,

These soldiers were obligated to fight, though of course there were also other motives, such as patriotism and personal glory.

Carthage's army, on the other hand, relied heavily on mercenary soldiers, who came from a variety of backgrounds.

The motivations of these men were primarily financial, and they were more expensive to employ.

That's important to keep in mind.

Later, we'll find out what can happen when mercenaries don't get paid.

For now, though, the key point is that Carthage was in increasingly dire straits.

The war effort couldn't be sustained indefinitely.

Carthage needed a hero.

And in 247 BCE, they got one in the form of Hamilcar Barca.

As a general, Hamilcar was one of the most impressive figures of the First Punic War.

successfully leading a guerrilla campaign against Roman forces.

He conducted lightning raids, which seems fitting given that his name, Barca, meant thunderbolt.

Over the next few years, Carthage managed to preserve its foothold in Sicily, even while the city of Lilibium was continually under siege.

In 243 BCE, Rome decided it was time to resume large-scale operations.

But, like Carthage, it was on the verge of bankruptcy.

In order to finance the construction of a new fleet, the Senate had to borrow money from wealthy Roman citizens.

By this point in the war, the Romans had become much better at building ships and much more experienced when it came to naval conflict.

In 241 BCE, the fleets met near the Egadian Islands off the west coast of Sicily.