Editing 250 BC (section)

==== Roman Republic ====
* In the [[First Punic War|Punic War]], the [[Roman Republic|Romans]] shift their attention to the southwest of [[Sicily]]. They send a naval expedition toward the [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] city of [[Lilybaeum]]. En route, the Romans seize and [[burn]] the Carthaginian held cities of Selinous and [[Heraclea Minoa]]. The Romans then begin the [[Siege of Lilybaeum (250–241 BC)|siege of Lilybaeum]].
* According to tradition ([[Horace]], Odes, iii. 5), after the defeat of the Carthaginians at the [[Battle of Panormus]], the Carthaginians release [[Marcus Atilius Regulus]] from [[prison]] and he is sent to Rome on [[parole]] to negotiate a peace or an [[Prisoner exchange|exchange of prisoners]]. However, on his arrival, he strongly urges the [[Roman Senate]] to refuse both proposals and continue fighting. After this he then honours his parole by returning to Carthage where he is executed by being placed in a spiked barrel, which is then let roll down a hill.