27.16
The
fighting in the forum commenced with an impetuosity which was not
sustained. The Tarentine was no match for the Roman either in courage or
weapons or military training or bodily strength and vigour. They hurled their
javelins, and that was all; almost before they came to close quarters they
turned and fled through the streets, seeking shelter in their own homes and in
their friends' houses. Two of their leaders, Nico and Democrates, fell fighting
bravely; Philemenus, who had been the prime agent in delivering the city up
to Hannibal, rode at full speed out of the battle, but though his riderless
horse was recognised soon afterwards whilst straying about the city, his
body was nowhere found. It was commonly believed that he had been
pitched headlong from his horse down an unprotected well. Carthalo the
commandant of the garrison, had laid down his arms and was going to the
consul to remind him of the old tie of hospitality between their fathers when
he was killed by a soldier who met him. Those found with arms and those
who had none were massacred indiscriminately, Carthaginians and
Tarentines met the same fate. Many even of the Bruttians were killed in
different parts of the town, either by mistake or to satisfy an old-standing
hate, or to suppress any rumour of its capture through treachery, by making
it appear as though it had been taken by storm. After the carnage followed
the sack of the city. It is said that 30,000 slaves were captured together with
an enormous quantity of silver plate and bullion, 83 pounds' weight of gold
and a collection of statues and pictures almost equal to that which had
adorned Syracuse. Fabius, however, showed a nobler spirit than Marcellus
had exhibited in Sicily; he kept his hands off that kind of spoil. When his
secretary asked him what he wished to have done with some colossal statues
-they were deities, each represented in his appropriate dress and in a fighting
attitude -he ordered them to be left to the Tarentines who had felt their
wrath. The wall which separated the city from the citadel was completely
demolished.
Hannibal had in the meanwhile received the surrender of the force
which was investing Caulo. As soon as he heard that Tarentum was being
attacked he hurried to its relief, marching night and day. On receiving the
news of its capture, he remarked, "The Romans too have their Hannibal, we
have lost Tarentum by the same practices by which we gained it." To prevent
his retirement from appearing like a flight he encamped at a distance of about
five miles from the city, and after staying there for a few days he fell back on
Metapontum. From this place he sent two of the townsmen with a letter to
Fabius at Tarentum. It was written by the civic authorities, and stated that
they were prepared to surrender Metapontum and its Carthaginian garrison if
the consul would pledge his word that they should not suffer for their
conduct in the past. Fabius believed the letter to be genuine and handed the
bearers a reply addressed to their chiefs, fixing the date of his arrival at
Metapontum. This was taken to Hannibal. Naturally delighted to find that
even Fabius was not proof against his stratagems, he disposed his force in
ambuscade not far from Metapontum. Before leaving Tarentum Fabius
consulted the sacred chickens, and on two occasions they gave an
unfavourable omen. He also consulted the gods of sacrifice, and after they
had inspected the victim the augurs warned him to be on his guard against
plots and ambuscades on the part of the enemy. As he did not come at the
appointed time, the Metapontines were again sent to him to hasten his
movements, and were promptly arrested. Terrified at the prospect of
examination under torture, they disclosed the plot.