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 Artificial offensive earthworks, walls, bridges

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PaulRyckier
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PaulRyckier

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PostSubject: Artificial offensive earthworks, walls, bridges   Artificial offensive earthworks, walls, bridges EmptyTue 24 Nov 2020, 17:14

As I see that the examples that I mentioned in GG's thread, were more military,
as the Ostend offensive built mountain
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beleg_van_Oostende
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grote_Kat
and the Roman circumvallation
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/ancient-history/circumvallation-romans-mastered-surrounding-towns.html
and in fact GG's original message was more about:
GG wrote:
"how many cultures have built Artificial Mountains (Pyramids, Ziggurats, Towers of Silence etc) as part of their sacred landscapes. I have often wondered if that indicates the culture originated in an area of actual mountains of not. What does everyone else think?"


I start here a new thread about these offensive military constructions as earthworks, walls and bridges.

One example springs immediately to my mind:
the Xerxes bridge over the Hellespontus (I learned first about it in the Greek-Latin lessons, 13 years old)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes%27_Pontoon_Bridges

Artificial offensive earthworks, walls, bridges Thracian_chersonese


and a second example I remembered from my visit to La Rochelle France was the wall that Richelieu let built to close the harbour of La Rochelle to block supply to the besieged ones:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_La_Rochelle
From the wiki:
"Once hostilities started, French engineers isolated the city with entrenchments 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) long, fortified by 11 forts and 18 redoubts. The surrounding fortifications were completed in April 1628, manned with an army of 30,000.
Four thousand workmen also built a 1,400 meters (0.9 mi) long seawall to block the seaward access between the city and harbor, stopping all supplies. The initial idea for blocking the channel came from the Italian engineer Pompeo Targone, but his structure was broken by winter weather, before the idea was taken up by the royal architect Clément Métezeau in November 1627. The wall was built on a foundation of sunken hulks filled with rubble. French artillery battered English ships trying to supply the city.[6]
Meanwhile, in southern France, Henri de Rohan vainly attempted to raise a rebellion to relieve La Rochelle. Until February, some ships were able to go through the seawall under construction, but after March this became impossible. The city was completely blockaded, with the only hope coming from possible intervention by an English fleet."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cl%C3%A9ment_II_M%C3%A9tezeau

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Green George
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Green George

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PostSubject: Re: Artificial offensive earthworks, walls, bridges   Artificial offensive earthworks, walls, bridges EmptyWed 25 Nov 2020, 21:01

The ramp built to get the seige tower to the gates of Masada is worth a mention.
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Green George
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Green George

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PostSubject: Re: Artificial offensive earthworks, walls, bridges   Artificial offensive earthworks, walls, bridges EmptyWed 25 Nov 2020, 21:03

Also the circumvallation (there was one at Masada) could be accompanied by a contravallation. See the seige of Alesia as an example.
https://www.thoughtco.com/gallic-wars-battle-of-alesia-2360869
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PaulRyckier
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PostSubject: Re: Artificial offensive earthworks, walls, bridges   Artificial offensive earthworks, walls, bridges EmptyWed 25 Nov 2020, 21:35

Yes GG such two examples I was looking for. Thanks, Paul.
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