ABSTRACT
After the spectacular events of 249, one might have expected the war to draw rapidly to a conclusion. Instead there were seven more years of relatively desultory conflict, followed by a final naval battle and then peace. The main reason for this is that Carthage failed to press home the advantage she had gained by the destruction of the Roman fleet, while Rome naturally needed time to recover from the disaster. Certainly it is Carthalo alone who figures in the later naval operations of the year, and more significantly, he that recaptures Aigithallos, which was near Adherbals old base at Drepana. The first operation ascribed to Hamilcar by Polybios was an attack on Italy in which he ravaged the territory of Locri and Bruttium. A more interesting episode is the attempted betrayal of Eryx to the Romans by some of Hamilcars Celtic mercenaries.
