Hannibal's Elephant Army: The New Evidence

The story of the Carthaginian general Hannibal’s epic crossing of the Alps with an army of 40,000 men, 9,000 cavalry and most famously 37 elephants, is one of the greatest legends in human history.  But the details of the journey – what route he took and how he managed to conquer the treacherous mountain terrain with such an entourage in tow - were a mystery, until now. 

For the very first time an international team of scientists is searching for clues hidden deep beneath the Alps’ rocky soil - their extraordinary discoveries shedding new light on Hannibal’s near impossible crossing.  They are joined by palaeobiologist Dr Tori Herridge and historian Dr Eve MacDonald, who follow in Hannibal’s footsteps to experience what it must have been like as this ancient army battled raging rivers, hostile tribes, and most daunting of all, the mighty mountain itself. 

Tori delves into the story of the elephants – one of the most challenging aspects of the journey – to reveal why they might be surprisingly good at mountain climbing. Whilst Eve tries to get inside the mind of Hannibal himself to understand what motivated this military genius. It’s been 2000 years in the making, but the true story behind this epic journey, is finally uncovered.

Producer/Director: Giulia Clark

Editor: Steve Brown

Executive Producer: Bill Locke