Letter to the Editor - Anse Boileau by-election: Another “Pyrrhic victory”? |27 February 2018

In 280 BCE in the Battle of Heraclea and in 279 BCE in the Battle of Asculum, during the Pyrrhic Wars, King Pyrrhus of Epirus (an ancient Greek State) succeeded in defeating the Romans but his army suffered irreplaceable casualties and losses in the process. It is written that Pyrrhus replied to one who gave him news of his victory that “one other such victory would utterly undo me”.

The phrase “Pyrrhic victory” was subsequently coined in his “honour”.

Could it be that some 2000 plus years later, the same Pyrrhic victory was replicated to the letter in the Anse Boileau by-election?

Alain Butler Payette

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this letter are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Seychelles NATION newspaper.