A September 2025 review by William Mahaney and Stefano Calanchi concluded no proposed pass has produced evidence securely identifying Hannibal's 218 BCE army. A 2026 energy-cost model by Emilio Berti and Felix Vollrath favored Traversette at 5.42 terajoules — lower than Mont Genèvre (6.02), Clapier (6.28), and Mont Cenis (6.45) — requiring roughly 233 metric tons of carbohydrate supplies for the men alone.
Energetic model favors Traversette pass for Hannibal's Alpine crossing
Key facts
- Hannibal invaded Italy by crossing the Alps in 218 BCE, but scholars have debated which pass he used for over 200 years.
- A September 2025 review by William Mahaney and Stefano Calanchi concluded no proposed route has produced evidence securely identifying Hannibal's army.
- A 2026 paper by Emilio Berti and Felix Vollrath modeled energy costs across four passes.
- Traversette had the lowest energy cost at 5.42 terajoules, compared to Mont Genèvre (6.02), Clapier (6.28), and Mont Cenis (6.45).
- The model required roughly 233 metric tons of carbohydrate-equivalent supplies for the men alone.
- The model excludes food acquisition, road conditions, weather, hostile groups, local guides, and entry/exit points.
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