Runs insistently in recent days, the expression "Pyrrhic victory". But who was Pyrrhic victory and what is it about?
Pirro (P ý Rrose, greek, red), 318-272 a. C., King of Epirus (a small kingdom between Albania and Greece), was one of the main enemies of the expansion Roman, aiming to extend its hegemony in Italy and Africa. When, in 281, the city of Taranto (then in Ancient Greece) asked him for help against Pyrrhus, Rome had a good excuse to send a powerful army in southern Italy reported that two wins at Heraclea (today Policoro, Matera) and Ausculum (Ascoli Satriano, Foggia). Although winning, Pirro lost half of his men and the main commanders, leaving more than 13,000 soldiers on the ground. Subsequently defeated by the Romans (275) and Carthage (which are also hostile to its expansionist) died three years later. Pirro, according to historians, after his victories expensive to have spoken the phrase " Another victory like this and come back in Epirus without even a soldier "(Paul Orosius, IV sec. DC). The clash between the great powers of that time has left its mark on the collective memory expression "Pyrrhic victory" is still used in the language of sports, politics, etc.. on the occasion of victories that give more glory to success.
"Pyrrhic victory" is a phrase quite simple it is to be hoped that (known or supposed historical references such) will not be abused as it did with Dante "makes me shudder veins and pulses (Inf, I, v. 90), where wrists are the arteries buttons (and not the anatomical region of the wrist!), wanting to say that Dante, for example. for fear, shiver these vessels being abandoned by the blood. Of this we had to listen to various deformations using political, even by people "rapprentativi", so it became: "to shake his wrists" (Prodi) or "shakes his wrists" (Casino), etc..
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