lowered in front or on either side. It was furnished on both sides
with parapets, and had space for two men in front. On coming to close
quarters with the enemy, this stage was quickly lowered and fastened
to the opposing ship by means of grappling irons; thus the Roman
marines were enabled to board with ease their opponents' ship, and
fight as if on land.

Four naval battles now followed: 1st, near LIPARA (260); 2d, off MYLAE
(260); 3d, off TYNDARIS (257); 4th, off ECNOMUS (256).

In the first of these only seventeen ships of the Romans were engaged
under the CONSUL GNAEUS CORNELIUS SCIPIO. The fleet with its commander
was captured.

In the second engagement, off Mylae, all the Roman fleet under GAIUS
DUILIUS took part. The Carthaginians were led by Hannibal, son of
Gisco. The newly invented stages or boarding-bridges of the Romans
were found to be very effective. The enemy could not approach near
without these bridges descending with their grappling irons and
holding them fast to the Romans. The Carthaginians were defeated, with
the loss of nearly half their fleet.

A bronze column, ornamented with the beaks of the captured vessels,
was erected at Rome in honor of this victory of Duilius. The pedestal
of it is still standing, and on it are inscribed some of the oldest
inscriptions in the Latin language.

The third engagement, off Tyndaris, resulted in a drawn battle.

In the fourth engagement, off Ecnomus, the Carthaginians had 350 sail.