Introduction

episode 20 a, the first punic war. A gang of ex mercenaries turned brigands seized masona to exploit its people and its natural resources for their own enrichment. Faced with the threat of falling under the domination of hiro of syracuse, the mamertines turned to the carthaginians for help. The romans had recently recovered one of their own cities, regium, from a similar band of adventurers,. whom they considered so reprehensible that they had taken them to rome for public execution. It was an example of blatant opportunism, though they gravely underestimated the consequences. In the face of carthaginian unpreparedness clearly overcame all considerations.