Explanation: The Roman Emperor Honorius (who was a complete incompetent, mind), reigned in 410 AD, during the first sack of Rome in some 800 years.
At that time they say that the Emperor Honorius in Ravenna received the message from one of the eunuchs, evidently a keeper of the poultry, that Rome had perished. And he cried out and said, 'And yet it has just eaten from my hands!' For he had a very large cock, Rome by name; and the eunuch comprehending his words said that it was the city of Rome which had perished at the hands of Alaric, and the emperor with a sigh of relief answered quickly: 'But I thought that my fowl Rome had perished.' So great, they say, was the folly with which this emperor was possessed
Explanation: The Romans were not particularly familiar with elephants during the early-to-mid Republic. When Pyrrhus of Epirus first confronted them with elephants, they were called 'Lucanian Cows' (Luca Bos) because they were first seen in Lucania.
The elephant is shown coming over the mountain, as about 60 years later, the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca would lead an army of mercenaries with war elephants over the Alps to attack Italy.
Though their fate is unknown after being paraded in the Triumph with the rest of the prisoners of the war, Rome isn't recorded as using war elephants themselves for almost a century afterwards, and venatio, beast fights, were not yet popular. So hopefully they were used for some more mundane purpose, like a rich guy showing off his fancy pets, or as draft animals.
Heh, I've always fancied myself a writer, but as a perfectionist, I've yet to finish anything I regarded as suitable for consumption for anyone other than myself. Maybe someday.
High priority chicken
Kim's sister denies North Korea has supplied weapons to Russia (apnews.com)
LUCANIAN COWS, RUN
Metal Ger Solid
Magic Mice
Another view of the Tarr Steps
'Tarr Steps' bridge, Britain, date of construction uncertain
Watercolor of Belgorod in the 17th century AD
Leather Roman shoe, found in Germany, 1st century BCE-AD
Tibetan people, ~1908
I'll be sad when they're 100% gone one day (lemmy.world)
"Thought-Terminating Cliches" (lemmy.world)
Sliding into your DMs
Roman troops opening ranks at the Battle of Zama to channel charging elephants into javelineers