Siege of Rhodes (305–304 BC)

The island of Rhodes was a mercantile republic with a large navy which controlled the entrance to the Aegean Sea. Rhodes maintained treaties of neutrality with other empires to protect trade. However, they had a close relationship with Ptolemy I, and Demetrius was worried Rhodes would supply him with ships. Demetrius also saw the possibility of Rhodes being used as a base of operations. The decision to lay siege to Rhodes was influenced by these fears but it was also effectively a piratical enterprise by Demetrius. Much of the Greek world, regardless of whether they were allies of Demetrius or not, apparently also viewed the siege as a pirate attack and sympathized with the Rhodians, and this attitude existed even in Macedonia. Demetrius brought an army of roughly 40,000 men, whilst the Rhodians had a force of 6,000 citizens, 1000 metics and aliens, and an unspecified number of slaves, whom the Rhodians promised to buy and free from their masters if they proved themselves in battle. == Siege ==

The city and main harbour of Rhodes was strongly fortified, and Demetrius was unable to prevent supply ships from running his blockade, so capturing the harbour was his main objective. He first built his own harbour alongside the original and constructed a mole from which he deployed a floating boom, but Demetrius ultimately never succeeded in taking the harbour. Meanwhile, his army ravaged the island and built a huge camp next to the city, but just out of missile range. Early in the siege, the walls were breached, and a number of troops entered the city, but they were all killed, and Demetrius didn't press the attack. The walls were subsequently repaired. Both sides used many technical devices during the siege, such as mines and counter-mines and various siege engines. Demetrius even built the now notable siege tower, known as the Helepolis, in his attempt to take the city. The citizens of Rhodes successfully repelled Demetrius’ forces over the course of the year-long siege. The costliness of the conflict encouraged both sides to come to terms, urged on by the Aetolian League and Ptolemy. The peace negotiated between Demetrius and the Rhodians prohibited the establishment of a garrison by the Antigonids in the city and ensured Rhodian autonomy. Rhodes and the Antigonids would now be allies in all conflicts except with the Ptolemies. Demetrius selected 100 hostages from prominent families to ensure the compliance of the Rhodians, but he was prohibited from picking among the current office holders. For their assistance during the siege, Lysimachus and Cassander were voted honours by the Rhodians and statues were constructed to commemorate the shipments of grain they provided during the siege. Ptolemy was esteemed higher. After a delegation was sent to Libya to consult Ammon over the matter, the Rhodians constructed a temple to the now deified Ptolemy. == Popular culture ==

L. Sprague de Camp used the siege and the building of the Colossus in one of his historical novels, The Bronze God of Rhodes. Alfred Duggan's novel on the life of Demetrius, Elephants and Castles, also covers the siege. The fifth novel in Christian Cameron's Tyrant series, Destroyer of Cities, features the siege of Rhodes. Emma Lazarus wrote a poem contrasting the Statue of Liberty to Colossus titled The New Colossus. ==References==