Page 678 Antigonus at that time was building a City in the Upper Syria near the River Orontes, call'd by his own name Antigonia, laying out great Sums of Money upon it, and taking in within the Walls seventy Furlongs of Ground. For the Place it self was very opportune to lie as a Yoke both upon Babylon and the Upper Provinces, and likewise upon the Lower, with the other Provinces, as far down as to Aegypt. But this City continu'd not long; for Seleucus raz'd it, and transplanted the Inhabitants to another, built by himself, call'd Seleucia, after his own Name. But we shall give an Account of these things when we come to the Time proper for them.
But Menelaus, after he was thus routed in Cyprus, drew in all his Engines within the Walls, and lin'd all the Bulwarks and Battlements with Soldiers, and prepar'd for Fighting, observing at the same time that Demetrius was doing the like. He dispatch'd likewise a Messenger to Ptolemy, to tell him what had happen'd, and to desire more help, in regard the Affairs of Cyprus were in a very low and dangerous Condition.
Demetrius seeing the City was in no contemptible Condition, and that it was furnish'd with a great Number of Soldiers for its Defence, was resolv'd to prepare Engines of an Extraordinary Bigness, and all sorts of Battering Rams, and other Instruments of War, that might in any sort terrify the Besieg'd. He sent likewise for Workmen out of Asia, and for Iron, Timber, and every thing else that was necessary to be made use of in the Works he design'd. And now every thing being ready at hand, he built an Engine, which he call'd Helepotis, from taking of Cities, Forty five Cubits broad on every side, and Ninety in height, drawn with four strong Wheels, Eight Cubits high; he made likewise two exceeding great Battering Rams, and Galleries to support them. He put several great shot of Massy-Stones in the lowest Story of the Helepolis, the greatest of which weighed three Talents; In the middle were plac'd very great Machines to shoot Darts and Arrows; In the highest Part were those that were less, and a great store of Stone-shot, and above Two hundred Men, who knew the manner of managing all these Devices to the best advantage.
Bringing up therefore his Engines to the Walls of the City, by showers of shot, he there swept off the Turrets and Battlements; and batter'd down the Walls by his Rams: But the Besieg'd made such obstinate Resistance, and opposing Engines to Engines, that the Issue for some days was very doubtful, and Toil, Labour, and Wounds were the mutual Lot and Portion of each Party. At length the Wall tumbled down, and the City was even upon the Point of being taken by Storm: But Night coming on, both sides drew off. Then Menelaus having a diligent Eye for the Security of the City, lest it should be taken by some fresh Stratagem, got a great deal of dry Stuff and Matter together, and cast it in the Night from off the Walls upon the Engines, together with many light Firebrands, and burnt the Principal of them. Upon the mounting up of the Flame the Demetrians came in to quench the Fire; but it was so quick and furious, that the Engines were totally Consum'd, and most of the Men that were in them.
However, Demetrius, though he was for the present disappointed in his Design, yet desisted not in the least, but urg'd on the Siege still both by Sea and Land, supposing that Time at last would Crown him with Victory.
But Ptolemy having receiv'd Intelligence how his Forces were routed, sets Sail from Aegypt, with an Army well furnish'd both for Sea Land; and arriving at Paphos in Cyprus, took Boats and went to Citium, Two hundred Furlongs from Salamis. His whole Fleet consisted of an Hundred and forty Long Ships, the biggest whereof was of Five Tire of Oars, and the least of Four; and these were attended with Two hundred Ships of Burden, carrying no less than Ten thousand Soldiers. From thence Ptolemy dispatch'd away by Land, some Messengers to Menelaus, to bid him with all speed to send him (if possibly he could) those Ships that were then in the Port of Salamis, which were Sixty Sail. For he was in hopes, that with this Addition, having made his Navy Two hundred Sail, (if he should come to a Sea Fight) he should be Victorious. But Demetrius foreseeing what might be in contriving, left part of his Army to carry on the Siege, and Mans all his Vessels with the best of his Soldiers; and places his Engines to shoot Stones, Arrows, and Darts of three Spans in length, upon the Forecastles of his Ships. Then with his Fleet, Top and Top-Gallant, ready prepar'd for Battel, he sail'd about to the City, and cast Anchor about a Dart's Cast from the Mouth of the Harbour, and there lay all Night, both to prevent that Fleet in the Port from joining with the other, and likewise waiting the coming up of the Enemy, being himself then prepar'd to fight him.
On the other hand, Potlemy sets sail for Salamis; and in regard he had with him in his Fleet a great Number of Tenders, his Navy seem'd to be exceeding great: Demetrius hearing of the Enemy's approach, left Antisthenes, the Admiral, with Ten Ships of Five
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Bible Study The King James Bible (kjv), World English Bible (web) and Bible in Basic English (bbe) are all examples of public domain books. The King James Bible (kjv) online uses the content from these books and open source software to enhance Bible study capabilities. The site includes the verse of the day, search tools, christian literature and links to related content. It demonstrates the use of open source to create a valuable service.