Upon their refusal he solemnly declared war by hurling his javelin against the walls.

The troops at once advanced to the assault, and poured flights of arrows, masses of stones from their machines, javelins, and missiles of all descriptions into the city, the defenders replying with equal vigour from the walls.

At the end of the first day's fighting Hannibal perceived that his hopes of carrying the place by assault were vain--for the walls were too high to be scaled, too thick to be shaken by any irregular attack--and that a long siege must be undertaken.
This was a great disappointment to him, as it would cause a long delay that it would be scarce possible to commence the march which he meditated that summer.

As to advancing, with Saguntum in his rear, it was not to be thought of, for the Romans would be able to land their armies there and to cut him off from all communication with Carthagena and Carthage.

There was, then, nothing to be done but to undertake the siege in regular order.
The army formed an encampment in a circle round the town.