Artemisia and Rhodos

Abstract

According to the Roman writer and architect, Vitruvius (1st century BC), Rhodians attacked Halikamassos by making use of the opportunity that a woman, Artemisia, had taken over the rule in Karia in 353/2 BC after the death of her husband, Mausolos, a member of the dynasty of Hekatamnos. Upon this, Artemisia commanded that her fleet should hide away in the hidden harbour of Halikamassos, while her people were accepting the Rhodians with a warm welcome, who would arrive with their well-furnished fleet. By appealing to a clever tactic, Artemisia ordered all the leading Rhodians to be slain on the forum when they entered the city. Afterwards, Artemisia seized the fleet of Rhodians which had not been damaged at all and sailed with this fleet to Rhodos. Rhodian people, presuming that their own fleet was arriving, welcomed them without resistance. As a result of this, Artemisia subjugated the Rhodians and put up in the city of Rhodos a trophy of her victory. While the ancient historians generally accept that this event is real and historical, in a recently detailed discussion on this subject, it is claimed that the story of Vitruvius is a pure fiction. In this paper, we shall argue that, when the relevant sources, concerning the period before and during the Social War, are examined in detail, the view on the reality of this event appears stronger.