Which was the only war that saw elephants used on opposing sides?

Arpeggionist

In Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra's poem about the game of chess, the elephant plays a dominant role in the "battle" between black ("Cushim" or Moors) and red ("Edomim" or Christians). This poem was written some time in the 12th century. Mar 19 05, 11:03 AM

peasypod

Nice try Arppy, as yes, I'm usually in a cryptic frame of mind when I post my questions, but not this time. Try looking back through the looking glass... Mar 19 05, 3:54 PM

Arpeggionist

The rabbi must have gotten his ideas somewhere. Mar 20 05, 2:35 AM

Stew54

I don't know if it's the only war, but elephants were used on both sides in the Fourth Syrian War (Battle of Raphia for instance) Mar 21 05, 1:35 PM

peasypod

Nice One stewy! In only one battle have elephants been used on both sides. In the Fourth Syrian War, in 217 B.C., Antiochus III of Syria used Asian elephants when he attacked Ptolemy IV's Egyptian army with its smaller elephants of North Africa. The Asian elephants were the victors, but the Egyptian army went on to win a smashing victory in the engagement at Raphia on the Egyptian border. Mar 21 05, 4:31 PM