The naval Battle of Thurii^[1] was fought between Ancient Rome and the Greek colony of Tarentum^[2]

Following the battle, Tarentum appealed to Pyrrhus, ruler of Epirus, for military aid.^[1][3] Motivated by his diplomatic obligations to Tarentum, and a personal desire for military accomplishment, Pyrrhus landed a Greek army of some 25,000 men^[1] and a contingent of war elephants^[1] on Italian soil in 280 BC,^[4] where his forces were joined by the Greeks and a portion of the Samnites who revolted against Roman control.