Helepolis (Taker of Cities) was an ancient siege engine invented by Demetrius I of Macedon and constructed by Epimachus of Athens for the unsuccessful siege of Rhodes, based on an earlier, less massive design used against Salamis. (305 BC/304 BC). Descriptions of it were written by Dioeclides of Abdera, Vitruvius, Plutarch, and in the Athenaeus Mechanicus. If their numbers are accurate, it was the biggest and most powerful siege tower ever erected. Replica battering ram at Château des Baux, France. ... Demetrius I (337-283 BC), surnamed Poliorcetes (Besieger), son of Antigonus I Monophthalmus and Stratonice, was a king of Macedon (294 - 288 BC). ... Combatants Antigonid dynasty Rhodes Ptolemaic dynasty Seleucid Empire Commanders Demetrius  ? Strength 1500 11200 Casualties 1300 5400 For other uses, see Siege of Rhodes (disambiguation). ... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 310 BC 309 BC 308 BC 307 BC 306 BC 305 BC 304 BC 303 BC 302... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 309 BC 308 BC 307 BC 306 BC 305 BC 304 BC 303 BC 302 BC 301... Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (born ca. ... Mestrius Plutarchus (Greek: Πλούταρχος; 46 - 127), better known in English as Plutarch, was an Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist. ... 19th century French drawing of a medieval belfry. ...

It was a large tapered tower, each side about 130 feet (41.1 meters) high and 65 feet (20.6 m) wide. It rested on eight wheels, each 12 feet (3.7 m) high. It also had casters for lateral movement. The three exposed sides were rendered fireproof with iron plates. The interior was divided into nine stories, connected by two broad flights of stairs. The machine weighed 160 tons and required 3,400 men working in relays to move it, 200 men turning a large capstan driving the wheels via a belt and the rest pushing from behind. It was extremely slow.^{[citation needed]} metre or meter, see meter (disambiguation) The metre is the basic unit of length in the International System of Units. ... Caster angle is the angular measure from the vertical of the suspension of a steered wheel in a car or other vehicle, measured in the longitudinal direction. ... Nautical capstan A capstan is a rotating machine used to control or apply force to another element, usually linear. ...

The Helepolis was heavily armed. The first floor contained two 180-pound catapults and one 60-pounder, the second floor three 60-pounders, and each of the next five floors two 30-pounders. In front, each story had apertures for firing the missile weapons. They were protected by shutters that could be opened or closed mechanically, and were lined with skins stuffed with wool and seaweed to render them fireproof as well. The top two floors had two dart throwers apiece. Replica catapult at Château des Baux, France For the handheld Y-shaped weapon, see slingshot. ...

As the helepolis was pushed towards the city, the Rhodians managed to dislodge some of the metal plates, and Demetrius ordered it withdrawn from battle to protect it from being burned. Following the failure of the siege, the helepolis was abandoned, and the people of Rhodes melted down its metal plating and used the materials to build the Colossus of Rhodes. This drawing of Colossus of Rhodes, which illustrated The Grolier Societys 1911 Book of Knowledge, is probably fanciful, as it is unlikely that the statue stood astride the harbour mouth. ...

Demetrius also attacked the city with a battering ram 180 feet long, requiring 1000 men to operate it, and he ordered the construction of korax, huge drills for boring through walls. Due to his use of siege engines at Rhodes, Demetrius was given the name "Poliorcetes" (the Besieger). In subsequent ages, siege engineers continued to use the name helepolis for moving towers which carried battering rams, as well as machines for throwing spears and stones. Replica battering ram at Ch teau des Baux, France A battering ram is a weapon used from ancient times. ... Hunting spear and knife, from Mesa Verde National Park. ... The rocky side of a mountain creek near Orosí, Costa Rica. ...

References

Warfare in the Classical World by John Warry Salamanda Books

External links

• http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/war/Helepolis.htm