Two miracles of Plutarch (17)

      Bronze tablet with prophecy of fall of Persia in overflowing spring

      Tides recedes to allow Alexander to pass (cf. parting of the Red Sea)

 

 

Siege techniques at Miletus

 

Attack in relays (D 17.22.1)

Smash the walls with rams (D 17.22.3)

 

Siege techniques at Halicarnassus

 

Conveying siege equipment by sea (D 17.22.5, 17.24.1)

Reconnoiter for weaknesses (A 1.20.5)

Sally by defenders to test weakness (1.20.3)

City threatens to be betrayed by faction (A 1.20.5)

Assaults in relays (D 17.24.4)

Sapping the walls (A 1.20.6)

Fill the moat (30 cubits wide, 15 deep) (A 1.20.8; D 17.24.4)

Siege towers (A 1.20.8)

      Shoot missiles at walls

Engines/rams (A 1.20.9; 1.19.2; D 17.24.4)

      Batter down the walls

Sheds to protect the workers (D 17.24.4)

Two towers and wall collapse after a few days (A 1.21.4)

Assaults into breaches (D 17.24.4)

Defenders build inner crescent wall (A 1.21.4; D 17.25.2)

Attackers have mantlets (A 1.21.5)

Defenders sally and burn one siege tower and mantlets (A 1.21.5; D 17.24.6)

Defenders advantage of height and flanking towers (A 1.21.6)

      With missile shooting engines (D 17.24.6)

Persians defend bravely; Memnon in front lines (D 17.25.1-4)

Drunken Macedonians launch wild assault (A 1.21.1-2; D 17.25.5-6)

Sally from the Triple Gate (A 1.22.1-7; D 17.26.1-27.3)

      Alexander almost defeated; saved by discipline of veterans (D 17.27.1-2)

Attackers have artillery and missiles from siege towers (A 1.22.2)

Defenders flee, bridge collapses, city gate is closed, many die (A 1.22.4-6)

Defenders have wooden tower opposite siege tower by crescent wall with dart throwing catapults (A 1.23.2; D 17.26.6-7)     

Defenders decide to withdraw (with fleet) and burn city (A 1.23.1-4)

Some defenders withdraw to the citadel Salmacis (A 1.23.3)

Alexander takes the city and spares it (A 1.23.4)