The Battle of Heraclea

The romans sent an army, eight legions strong, south to deal with this invading army. They met pyrus near heraclea, a greek city located on the instep of the italian boot. Pyrus lost four thousand of his best troops and watched with consternation as the romans withdrew in an orderly fashion back to their camp. This was not going to be as easy as he thought. The battle of heraclea was important for two reasons. It was the fir time the newly reformed maniple legions had faced the might of a full greek phalynx. Second, it was also the first time the romans faced war elephants. And the presence