Dragon Spotlight 3: Carthaginian Serpent

Our third dragon spotlight is on the Carthaginian Serpent, and comes from Roman accounts of the beast.

During the first Punic War, General Regulus and his troops had to cross the Bagradas River in modern-day Tunisia.

When confronted with the great serpent across the river, Regulus decided to cross the river at a different place, but the snake pursued them until they face off against it in a great battle.

Author and illustrator Rachel based her drawing of the Carthaginian Serpent (seen above) on the African Rock Python, below

Native to the area where the myth is set, the African Rock Python can grow up to (or even beyond) 20 feet and has been known to swallow antelope!  Surely it would have made an impression on a foreign Roman soldier encountering it for the first time.  

Let us know if you've heard of the Carthaginian Serpent, or simply have made the acquaintance of a particularly large and ill-tempered African Rock Python.  Next week we'll be back with another dragon spotlight, complete with never-before-seen illustrations inspired by local fauna!