Hannibal traversant les Alpes

This fresco illustrates one of antiquity’s boldest feats: the Carthaginian general Hannibal crossing the Alps in 218 BC, at the start of the Second Punic War. Leading an army of African and Iberian soldiers and the famous war elephants, Hannibal forces his way through hostile mountain passes, facing cold, rockfalls, and attacks from local tribes. The manoeuvre surprises Rome and allows Hannibal to bring the war directly onto Italian soil. The scene symbolises military genius, audacity, and the determination of a leader ready to push human limits to defeat his enemy.