LIVING

Still, when they passed through Barcelona in mid-September, all three brothers spoke enthusiastically about their endeavour and the possibility of future projects, with Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan mentioned as inspirations. But, suggested Danny, “maybe [we could] do it on motorcycle or horses.”

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ALL ABOUT HANNIBAL

THE ESSENTIALS

Around 218 BCE, Hannibal and his brothers Hasdrubal and Mago left Cartagena leading between 50,000 and 100,000 men to journey around the Mediterranean, crossing both the Pyrenees and the Alps, to spring an attack on the Romans. Although they won various battles, Rome itself wasn’t taken.

BARCELONA

Danny: “There is anecdotal legend that Barcelona is named after Barca, which is the family name of Hannibal. But that’s not historical fact by any stretch.”

EMPÚRIES

Sam: “Empúries prepared for him coming. They reinforced their walls just about the time when he would have been marching by.”

CATALUNYA

Scholars are divided over whether Hannibal crossed Catalunya by a coastal or inland route. Sam: “There’s not really definite evidence for him going either route.” Some historians argue for the inland Segre route (Lleida-Puigcerdà-Perpignan-Elna) because Empúries was friendly to Rome.

BIKES v ELEPHANTS

Hannibal took 37 elephants with him, believed to be from a species that is now extinct, the African forest elephant; they’re sometimes called Atlas elephants as they’re thought to have lived in the Atlas mountains. They carried supplies and were used to charge the enemy. Danny: “It’s much easier with bikes. Bikes don’t have to be fed. But they do get punctures. ”