Syrian Elephant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Syrian elephant (Elephas maximus asurus) is said to have been the westernmost subspecies of the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) in ancient times^{[citation needed]}. Syrian elephants were among the largest elephants in historic times, measuring 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) or more at the shoulder.

[edit] Indian elephants misnamed "Syrian"

So-called "Syrian" elephants are frequently mentioned concerning Hellenistic history; this is a misnomer, stemming from the fact that the Seleucid kings, who held numerous war elephants, were kings in Syria.

These elephants were however in fact Indian elephants, which had been acquired by the Seleucid kings during their eastern expeditions. It is attested by ancient sources such as Strabo^[1] and Polybius ^[2] that Seleucid kings Seleucus I and Antiochus III had large quantities of Indian elephants.

Hannibal had a war elephant known as "Surus"; it has been suggested to mean "The Syrian." In that case, the elephant may have been of Seleucid stock.

It was said to be his best (and biggest) elephant - the usual Carthaginian war elephants, despite popular depiction, were the smallish North African Elephants (Loxodonta africana pharaonensis), an African Bush Elephant population or subspecies now extinct.