SICILY, Italy – This summer has been full of ancient discoveries from the historic era of the Roman Empire, as Italian deep-sea divers discover a shipwreck with artifacts in remarkable condition.
Around three miles off the coast of Sicily, Italy, a diving expedition organized by the Italian Ministry of Defense sought to explore an archaeological site first discovered by local citizens swimming in the area.
Located at a depth of around 150 feet on the ocean floor, divers found a shipwreck presumably dating back to between the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C.
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Among the findings, divers discovered two anchor stocks and hundreds of amphorae, large ceramic jars used to store wine, olive oil, grain and other supplies.
Footage shared by the Italian Ministry of Culture shows numerous red-colored jars in good condition, as hundreds have lain piled on top of each other for over 2,000 years.
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The Roman Empire is known for its vast conquests across numerous regions of the globe, and to succeed in this, it had to develop seaborne combat over the course of its first centuries.
This is specifically a time when the Roman Republic did not have a single emperor, as the Senate and assemblies worked together to appoint executive officials called magistrates.
These officials helped enact laws and increase Rome's influence and territory throughout the peninsula.
The birth of Rome's navy was driven by the desire to control the strategic town of Messana on the island of Sicily, which is situated in a way that allows it to control commerce and communications with the mainland.
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In 264 B.C., the Carthaginian Empire challenged Rome's expansion efforts after successfully fending off Hiero II of Syracuse, a Greek tyrant, and establishing a permanent presence on the island.
The empire could not have such a great threat hold a vital piece of land so close to the mainland of Italy, and as a result, it began to form its first naval fleet, thus beginning the First Punic War.
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The Romans would see their first victories at sea just four years later, during the Battle of Mylae in 260 B.C. and the Battle of Economus in 256 B.C., where a fleet of 300 ships and 150,000 men defeated the Carthaginians.
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This would mark the start of Roman expansion across the Mediterranean and the beginning of the Punic Wars.
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