Rome and the Romans

Tarantum, one of the leading cities of magna gratia, sent envoys into greece begging for aid against roman encroachment. The major powers disdained to get involved, but pirs saw a chance for glory. In two 80 pirus arrived with his full army, including four thousand cavalry and 20 war elephants. They landed in italy without opposition, and the greek king began to lay plans for the systematic conquest of the peninsula. But the romans had just recently secured italy for themselves, and were in no mood to give it up easily. An advance party from apyrus arrived in two 81 b c, just as the papers were being signed