What do you call a herd of elephants marching knee deep in snow? Lost, I hear you say…

Well… yes, that may be true but it may also be the most memorable picture from the century long Romano-Carthaginian conflict over twenty-two hundred years ago, known to history as the Punic Wars. This three part story shaped the future of Europe, and ultimately the world with the winner becoming the most influential state the world has know and the loser consigned to the dustbin of history. The curtain raiser, the First Punic War (264-241BCE), was fought mostly in and around Sicily. The main event, the Second Punic War (218-201BCE), was more far-reaching with battles fought in Africa, Spain, Gaul, Italy, Sicily and Greece and produced two of the most prominent generals of all time, Hannibal Barca and Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus. The unfortunate final act, the Third Punic War (149-146BCE) ended with the eradication of the entire Carthaginian culture. For such a pivotal period in history, there is now a place to learn more about the ‘lost’ elephants, to display your knowledge of the African invasions, to discuss the route taken by Hannibal through the Alps or a place to vent your spleen over the unnecessary destruction of Carthage and proclaim your everlasting hatred for Marcus Porcius Cato (quite a popular past time). That place is "Delenda est Carthago!!" Now, I recognise the hypocrisy of naming a group from a phrase made famous by someone who is the subject of such ridicule but the use of “Carthage must be destroyed!!” in Latin is slightly tongue-in-cheek and reeks of sarcasm. Think of there being a huge question mark outside the quotation As an academic group, the kind of questions like “Should Carthage have been destroyed?” are at the heart of "Delenda est Carthago!!" However, I would like to think that it is also a place to have some fun. Aside from lampooning Cato, there is always room to laugh at Appius Claudius Pulcher and his sacred chickens, cringe at the ineptitude of Varro at Cannse or scratch your head furiously at some of the mind-boggling trivia questions set by fellow members. Added to that are the whisperings of a role-playing game in the pipeline, makes "Delenda est Carthago!!" a must join for any Punic Wars enthusiast be they young or old, veteran or beginner or just looking for a good time.