Aeneas tactus and other ancient poliorcetics

[eugene]

What do the modern scientists think about the military competence and experience of Aeneas Tacticus? Are there any articles about him and other ancient authors who wrote on siegecraft? I will be glad for any articles. My e-mail address is [email protected]

[eugene]

Oh, sorry for my mistake - of course Aeneas Tacticus, not Tactus.

[Eleatic Guest]

I believe his was the first (extant) treatise on siegecraft. Interestingly, though, catapults did not feature prominently in it, which soon after became under Philip and Alexander a prime method of subduing cities.

[D B Campbell]

Interestingly, though, catapults did not feature prominently in it, which soon after became under Philip and Alexander a prime method of subduing cities.

Maybe a prime method of assisting in subduing cities by laying down a suppressing fire. (In my opinion ... )

[D B Campbell]

Are there any articles about him and other ancient authors who wrote on siegecraft?

You probably know Hermann Bengtson's article "Die griechische Polis bei Aeneas Tacticus" in Historia 11 (1962), 458ff.

[Eleatic Guest]

Interestingly, though, catapults did not feature prominently in it, which soon after became under Philip and Alexander a prime method of subduing cities.

Maybe a prime method of assisting in subduing cities by laying down a suppressing fire. (In my opinion ... )

Yes, you are correct, of course (my imperfect English...). Catapults capable of systematically reducing well-built walls to rubble were only introduced in the High Middle Ages (the so-called counterweight trebuchet).