Ancient Roman Naval Relic Recovered off Sicilian Coast

A 2,300-year-old bronze naval ram from the Battle of the Aegates Islands has been recovered off western Sicily. The relic, found at 80 meters depth, is the 27th ram discovered since the 2000s. It is currently being studied in Favignana, revealing historical insights into ancient naval warfare.

An ancient Roman relic from the nearly 2,300-year-old naval battle in which Rome triumphed over Carthage has been recovered from waters off western Sicily, regional authorities revealed on Friday. The 3rd-century B.C. bronze ram, once affixed to the bow of warships to attack enemy vessels, was found at a depth of about 80 meters (260 feet) near the archipelago of the Aegates Islands, according to a statement from the Sicilian regional government.

The Battle of the Aegates Islands, in 241 B.C., represented the final naval confrontation between the fleets of Carthage and the Roman Republic during the First Punic War, signifying a pivotal moment for both empires. Carthage, situated near Tunis in present-day Tunisia, started to decline after its defeat.

The ram was retrieved this month by divers from the Society for the Documentation of Underwater Sites and transported to Favignana, one of the Aegates Islands, where archaeologists are currently studying it. The front of the battering ram features a relief decoration with a Montefortino-type helmet adorned with three feathers, although seaweed and shell deposits currently obscure any inscriptions, authorities noted.

This relic is the 27th ram from the naval battle to be discovered underwater since the early 2000s, alongside over 30 ancient Roman helmets, two swords, and numerous coins and amphorae, the statement added.

(With inputs from agencies.)