Alexander The Great And The Siege Of Tyre
In the first part of this series, we noted the siege equipment of the Assyrians consisted of complex battering rams, earthen ramps and a dedicated corps of engineers and sappers. Alexander the Great and the Greeks would take the next steps in the evolution of siege warfare. The Greeks had invented the catapult circa 399 B.C. Early catapults were driven by either tension devices or torsion in the form of twisted ropes.
In January 332 B.C., Alexander began the Siege of Tyre. While the rest of the cities on the coast of modern Lebanon had surrendered to Alexander, he could not leave Tyre in the hands of the Persian fleet in his rear as he took his army to Egypt. Capturing Tyre was a strategic necessity for Alexander’s war plans.
Tyre, however, …show more content…
Rocks and stones taken from the old city, timbers, reeds and rubble provided the raw materials for the causeway. Water around the causeway was shallow until a certain point where it deepened to 18 feet. Meanwhile, the Tyrians were busy firing missiles at the workers, slowing the …show more content…
In defense, the Tyrians took an old ship and filled it with combustible materials: pitch, chaff, torches and sulphur. They put cauldrons on the ship filled with inflammable oil. The stern of the ship was weighted to tip the bow out of the water. Two galleys towed the fire ship, releasing it to drive it and themselves aground on the causeway. There, they fired the ship, which turned the end of the causeway into an inferno. Although besiegers frantically tried to put out the fire, the towers burned down.
Undaunted, Alexander ordered the causeway repaired and more siege towers constructed. These siege towers were mobile and were likely the tallest ever built. With catapults above and ballistas below, these artillery platforms could be moved right up to a city’s walls. At the same time, Alexander knew that only naval superiority would conquer the city. He then traveled to Sidon to fetch his fleet of 80 ships. The king of Cyprus, who wished to join Alexander’s conquests, sent another 120 galleys, while Ionia sent 23. Alexander’s fleet greatly outnumbered the Tyrian’s fleet.
On-Ship Battery Rams and Artillery
In January 332 B.C., Alexander began the Siege of Tyre. While the rest of the cities on the coast of modern Lebanon had surrendered to Alexander, he could not leave Tyre in the hands of the Persian fleet in his rear as he took his army to Egypt. Capturing Tyre was a strategic necessity for Alexander’s war plans.
Tyre, however, …show more content…
Rocks and stones taken from the old city, timbers, reeds and rubble provided the raw materials for the causeway. Water around the causeway was shallow until a certain point where it deepened to 18 feet. Meanwhile, the Tyrians were busy firing missiles at the workers, slowing the …show more content…
In defense, the Tyrians took an old ship and filled it with combustible materials: pitch, chaff, torches and sulphur. They put cauldrons on the ship filled with inflammable oil. The stern of the ship was weighted to tip the bow out of the water. Two galleys towed the fire ship, releasing it to drive it and themselves aground on the causeway. There, they fired the ship, which turned the end of the causeway into an inferno. Although besiegers frantically tried to put out the fire, the towers burned down.
Undaunted, Alexander ordered the causeway repaired and more siege towers constructed. These siege towers were mobile and were likely the tallest ever built. With catapults above and ballistas below, these artillery platforms could be moved right up to a city’s walls. At the same time, Alexander knew that only naval superiority would conquer the city. He then traveled to Sidon to fetch his fleet of 80 ships. The king of Cyprus, who wished to join Alexander’s conquests, sent another 120 galleys, while Ionia sent 23. Alexander’s fleet greatly outnumbered the Tyrian’s fleet.
On-Ship Battery Rams and Artillery