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Zama

Historical Location
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A North African battlefield where Rome defeated Carthage in 202 BCE.

Detailed Definition
Zama was the site of Scipio Africanus’s decisive victory over Hannibal, ending the Second Punic War and establishing Rome’s dominance in the western Mediterranean. Although the exact location remains debated, its historical force is unmistakable. In poetry, Zama can represent the exhaustion of rivalry, the reversal of a conqueror’s fortune, and the stark silence that follows elephants, armies, and generations of imperial ambition.
Example
Example in poetry:
A poet may use Zama to evoke the battle in which Scipio defeated Hannibal in 202 BCE; Zama can symbolize the turning point when Carthaginian power yielded to Rome; A historical poem might contrast Hannibal’s earlier victories with his final defeat at Zama; The battlefield can provide an image of ambition, endurance, and the uncertain ending of empire
Additional Notes
Zama refers to the North African battlefield where Rome defeated Carthage in 202 BCE, bringing the Second Punic War to a decisive close. Roman victory over Hannibal’s forces established Rome’s dominance in the western Mediterranean. In poetry, Zama can symbolize the collapse of an empire, military strategy, revenge, rivalry, and the turning point at which a long conflict reaches its final outcome.
Other Meanings of “Zama”
Also Known As
Zama Regia
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