Great Battles of the Ancient World | The Sieges of Alesia and Masada (Lecture 20)

Lecture 20: We open with a brief survey of developments in siege warfare since the Assyrian period, particularly during the Hellenistic era, when poliorketika (“encircling of the polis”) became a virtual science. We then assess the growth of siegecraft among the Romans, who became masters of capturing apparently impregnable fortifications, such as Numantia in Spain (taken in 133 B.C.). The sieges of Alesia (52 B.C.) and Masada (A.D. 72–73) are illustrative of Roman determination and industry in prosecuting sieges. Both actions required titanic physical effort on the part of the besiegers, as enormous networks of camps, towers, moats, and palisades were constructed to seal the besieged off from the outside world. In the case of Alesia, Caesar had two sets of fortifications erected, one facing inward and the other outward to face a massive army of Gallic rebels intent on relieving their besieged compatriots. At Masada, the Romans constructed a vast ramp, the vestiges of which can still be seen to this day, and rolled siege engines up to the walls. Attempts to escape the Roman army behind even formidable fortifications were shown to be futile.

Essential Reading:
Caesar, Gallic War, Book 7.
Josephus, The Jewish War, 7.252–406 (Masada).
Plutarch, Life of Caesar, pp. 25–27 (Alesia).
Connolly, Greece and Rome at War, pp. 274–303.
Kern, Ancient Siege Warfare, pp. 163–351.

Supplemental Reading:
Ben-Yehuda, Sacrificing Truth.
Marsden, Greek and Roman Artillery.
Yadin, Masada.

Lecture 21: https://www.bitchute.com/video/5UXVGWHeFyTy/