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ArtistDepiction of Hannibal's crossing of the Alps during the Second Punic War. 3rd century BC Carthaginian and Celtic warriors marching on foot and leading horses and war elephants along a trail of muddy snow along the valley floor of Great St. Bernard Pass. The soldiers push forward with heads bowed against snow and sleet blowing in their eyes. They wear coverings of animal skins, furs, and rags over their traditional clothing. Snow and ice cover the boulders and crags lining the hillsides above the valley. Mont Blanc can be seen in the background, towering over the scene.
Nivôse was the name given to the fourth 30-day month of the French Republican Calendar. It corresponds with the period from roughly December 23rd to January 23rd. The name is derived from the French word for "snowy" (itself a derivative of neige, or snow). Nivôse is preceded by Frimaire, the name of which, somewhat confusingly, is derived from the word for frost. Nivôse is, in turn, the first month of the winter quarter, followed by Pluviôse (derived from pluie, or rain) and Ventôse (named after vent, or wind). As I already went with a more bucolic winter scene with Frimaire, I decided to distinguish Nivôse by aiming for a more threatening and inhospitable scene. What could be more threatening than a depiction of Hannibal's invasion of Italy by way of the French Alps--one of the most dramatic scenes in all European history? The Carthaginians are said to have lost half their men and animals along the march. Exposure, disease,u blizzard, avalanche and rockfall, not to mention hidden pitfalls like thousand foot crevasses and bands of hostile Gallic tribesmen guarding their turf, or seeking to curry favor with Rome. As Hannibal led his men up the last rise before reaching the Po Valley, he's said to have exclaimed they were "atop the very walls of Rome itself."
