Romans were terrified by war elephants at first - but eventually found a way to defeat them in battle.

The article discusses the use of war elephants in ancient warfare, particularly focusing on the encounters between the Romans and their enemies who employed elephants. The Romans initially faced fear and difficulty when confronted with war elephants, but eventually found ways to defeat them in battle. The article explores the origins of war elephants in the Mediterranean world, their acquisition and deployment by various kingdoms, and the strategies employed by the Romans to counter them. It also highlights the drawbacks of using elephants in battle, such as their potential to cause harm to their own side and the logistical challenges they posed. The Romans ultimately decided against incorporating elephants into their own ranks due to their reliance on troop mobility. [Extracted from the article]