Q&A: Could a larger ancient battle have been lost to history?

Which civilizations might have fought a larger battle that was lost to history?

The suggestions remain speculative. Large ancient land armies offer possibilities, but no lost naval engagement larger than Ecnomus is identified.

Suggestions of a lost battle larger than Ecnomus remain speculative. Egyptian land battles enter the comparison, but evidence for very large armies does not establish a correspondingly large naval engagement. A powerful maritime empire could maintain many ships mainly as transports if it lacked a rival capable of meeting that fleet. Fleet size and the number of ships committed to battle therefore need separate consideration.