Trasimenus Lacus

The ancient name of an Italian lake ( Lago Trasimeno , or Lago di Perugia ), lying between the towns of Cortona and Perugia. Trasimenus Lacus is memorable chiefly for the great victory obtained by Hannibal in 217 B.C. , during the second Punic war, over the Romans, under their consul, C. Flam in i us. Hannibal leaving Tæsulæ pa ed close by the camp of Flam in i us at Arretium, laying waste the country as he proceeded in the direction of Rome. This, as the Cart hag in i an general intended, induced the consul to break up his encampment and follow in pursuit, Hannibal in the mean time taking up a strong position on the hills on the north side of the lake, along which he was pa ing. The consul, coming up early next morning, when the whole place was enveloped in mist, saw only the troops in front on the hill of Tuoro , with whom he was preparing to engage, when he found himself surrounded and attacked on all sides. The Cart hag in i ans thus had the Romans completely in their power, and took such advantage of the opportunity, that 16,000 Roman troops are said to have been either ma acred or drowned in the lake; Flam in i us himself being among the first who fell; 6000 troops who had forced their way through the enemy, surrendered next day to Maharbal. It is said both by Livy and Pliny that the fury on both sides was so great as to render the combatants unconscious of the shock of an earthquake which occurred during the battle.