Introduction

Superweapons of the Ancient World is a history, technology documentary hosted by Glenn Wrage, and aired by Discovery Channel in 2004.

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Outline

The team has seven days to build a fourth-century siege tower armed with catapults (using period materials and construction techniques) that can be used to breach the fortified city walls of Essaouira in Morocco.

The early fourth century saw the creation of a mobile armour-plated siege tower armed with the world’s first catapults. The use of siege tower was first recorded in the Battle of Motya in 394 B.C. Dionysius I led his Greek army, consisting of tens of thousands of men, from Syracuse on the east coast of the island of Sicily. Motya, an island off the west coast of Sicily, was once the homeland of Dionysius I. However, Motya was taken over by Cartheginians and Dionysius I was determined to get it back. Dionisius I gathered all his leading mathematicians, scientists, and inventors to create the most powerful weapon of the day.

Now experiencing what engineering might have been like 2000 years ago, this team of builders must re-create a 12-metre-high “City Destroyer”; will they get the job done and defeat a local “enemy”?

Superweapons of the Ancient World Series

You can find a full index and overview of Superweapons of the Ancient World here.

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 21 October 2004.
• Running time: 49 minutes (per episode).
• Rating: PG.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

YouTube Link