Epimachus of Athens

Epimachus of Athens (Greek: Ἐπίμαχος ὁ Ἀθήναιος, c.300 BC) was a renowned Athenian engineer and architect who is known to have constructed the Helepolis (literally, Taker of Cities), a huge siege machine first conceptualised by Demetrius I of Macedon and built to be employed in the unsuccessful siege of Rhodes.

Few particular details are known about Epimachus of Athens' life. He built other unique siege weapons, aside from the Helepolis, some for Demetrius I of Macedon, and others for various other leaders and warlords. Of these other siege weapons was a large battering ram over 60 metres long. Many of his creations had visible effects on future siege engineering, hundreds of years later, and the design for the Helepolis in particular had effects on future designs; the term Helepolis endured for many centuries after the "original", used for any similar, tower-like siege machine.

The design for the Helepolis was based on that of an earlier and smaller siege machine, used against Salamis at around 305 BC, but it was Epimachus of Athens who actually co-ordinated the construction of the siege machine. Assuming the figures recorded in the writings of several ancient historians, including Dioeclides of Abdera, Vitruvius and Plutarch are accurate, the Helepolis was and remains the largest siege machine ever erected; it was a colossal, tapered, tower-like structure 60 feet (20 metres approx.) in width, with each side over 125 feet (42 metres approx.) high. It rested on eight, 12-foot (3.7 m) high wheels, allowing mobility, and it also had casters to accommodate lateral movement.

All exposed sides of the helepolis were rigidly defended; iron plates protected the wooden structure from possible inflammation, and additional defences, such as great stretches of hide plastered on the interior, were placed to withstand the power of ballista and catapult assault. The inside of the machine was divided into nine separate stories, each accessible through a long flight of stairs that wound from the ground floor to the very top. Over 3,600 men were needed as crew, working in relays to drive the helepolis, which weighed over 160 tons.

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