Rhodes 305–304 BC

Dec 30

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The engineering marvels of the Ancients

Weapons and Warfare

tumblr_mmi665mwU01rcoy9ro1_1280The Helepolis at Rhodes

Height: 130-140ft (40-43m)

Base: 72ft (22m) square

Armament: Lowest floor: 2×180 Iber (82kg) catapults; 1×60 Iber (27kg) catapult 1st floor: 3×60 Iber (27kg) catapults Next five floors: 2×30 Iber (14kg) catapults Top two floors: 2x dart-throwers.

Construction: main beams are fir or pine, wheels and horizontals are oak. All major joints are reinforced with iron plates. To protect the machine from fire-missiles, its exterior is clad with iron plates on 3 sides.

Propulsion: the machine is mounted on eight wheels each 15ft (4’6m) in diameter. It is propelled by a capstan and belt drive, with a suitable mechanical advantage, (manned by roughly 200 men). Additional thrust could be provided from the rear.

Weight: Probably around 150 tons.

Siege towers had existed since Assyrian times. That illustrated is the famous helepolis built by Epimachus of Athens for Demetrius “Poliorcetes” (the Besieger) in 304 BC. This was the…

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About Jack

BRIEF BIO: Jack Gunter is a writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and songs. He is the co-owner of Open Door Communications, a copywriter, an inventor, and a former broker and private investigator. He is a naturalist and an amateur scientist and cryptologist. He likes to compose music and to design and play games and puzzles of all types. He homeschooled his children. He lives in the Upstate of South Carolina with his beautiful wife, talented two daughters, his old friend and Great Dane Sam, and his three Viking Cats.

Posted on December 30, 2015, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.

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