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Battle of Lake Trasimenus

Battle of Lake Trasimenus

9.9
A battle in 217 BC in Italy during the Second Punic War where Hannibal ambushed and defeated a Roman army
  • proper noun
translation icon : Batalla del Lago Trasimeno
  • The Battle of Lake Trasimenus is considered one of Hannibal's greatest tactical victories.

Examples

  • The defeat at the Battle of Lake Trasimenus shocked the Roman Republic and prompted changes in their command.

  • Did you know that the Battle of Lake Trasimenus took place in 217 BC?

  • Historians have studied the Battle of Lake Trasimenus to understand ancient military strategy.

  • The Battle of Lake Trasimenus was a significant victory for Hannibal.

  • The Battle of Lake Trasimenus is considered one of Hannibal's greatest tactical victories.

  • Historians have studied the Battle of Lake Trasimenus to understand ancient military strategy.

  • The defeat at the Battle of Lake Trasimenus shocked the Roman Republic and prompted changes in their command.

Synonyms

Battle of Lake Trasimene
vsBattle of Lake Trasimenus
9.9

A 217 BC ambush near Lake Trasimene where Hannibal defeats a Roman army

refers to the same ambush but uses a different traditional-name form
battle of Trasimeno
vsBattle of Lake Trasimenus
9.9

A battle in central Italy in 217 BC where Hannibal defeated the Romans under Flaminius during the Second Punic War

is the same battle but given another conventional name
Trasimeno
vsBattle of Lake Trasimenus
9.9

A battle in central Italy in 217 BC where Hannibal beat the Roman army led by Flaminius

is the identical event but uses the lake's more formal historical name

Surface Forms

Battle of Lake Trasimenus main

Morphology

battle + of + lake + Trasimenus

The phrase is a literal locative noun phrase composed of 'battle' + 'of' + 'lake' + a place name, so a B1 learner who knows those words will infer it denotes a battle that took place at Lake Trasimenus even if they lack historical details. Proper names do not block compositional meaning, and this pattern (a battle at X) is cross-linguistically transparent.

Etymology

The Battle of Lake Trasimenus was a 'surprise attack' by the general Hannibal in 217 BC when he hid his soldiers in the hills and attacked the Roman army as it marched along the lake, trapping many men between the water and the hills. That's why the Battle of Lake Trasimenus is remembered as one of Hannibal's great victories and a shocking defeat for Rome.