Can winning in any arena be achieved at too high a price? We have been discussing a few stories about the Greek colony, Taras. There were a number of Greek city-states founded in the southern part of the Italian “boot” and in Sicily. So ubiquitous were the Greek colonies that the area was called “Magna Graecia.”

After 300 BC the power of the Roman Republic was really expanding. Though there would be no emperor for about 275 more years, Rome was becoming very much an empire. In southern Italy, some Greek poleis began to call on the Romans to help them militarily whenever neighboring cities attacked them. The Romans often came to help when they were asked, but like empires are wont to do, they seldom left once they showed up. Taras was a leading city and proudly feared and resisted Roman incursions. Their civic pride would lead them to call upon one of the world’s greatest generals, who would bring one of the world’s finest armies to their anticipated rescue. But could this decision rather lead to their doom?

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