The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook

The army in the field 101
road from the west to the palace and the ridge, there was a very broad
outcrop of rock which jutted out to a significant degree, though still
being about 450 feet (300 cubits) below the level of Masada. It was
called White (cliff). (Section 306) After he had climbed up and occupied
this high point, Silva ordered the soldiers to build up a siege mound.
Because of the enthusiasm of their work and the number of people
helping, a solid mound was built to a height of about 300 feet (200
cubits). (Section 307) However they thought that it was not stable or
wide enough as a base for the siege engines, and on top of it they built
a platform of great stones fitted closely together, seventy-five feet (50
cubits) broad and seventy-five feet (50 cubits) high… (Section 309)
Moreover, a tower ninety feet (60 cubits) high was built entirely enclosed
by iron, from which the Romans, using catapults and stone-throwers,
speedily drove the defenders from the walls and prevented them from
appearing. (Section 310) At the same time Silva having got ready a
mighty battering ram, ordered it to be directed in a series of repeated
attacks against the wall, which was breached with difficulty and then
destroyed… (The defenders built up a second wall of wooden beams
and earth which was not so vulnerable to the battering ram.) (Section
315) Noting this, Silva decided that it would be more effective to use
fire against this wall, and ordered the troops to bombard it with a
volley of flaming torches. (Section 316) Since it was largely constructed
of wood, it rapidly caught fire and because of its hollow interior this
spread right through and blazed up in a mighty conflagration. (Section
317) When the fire first started, the Romans were alarmed by a north
wind, which, diverting the fire from above, blew it against them, and
they were virtually in despair in case all the siege engines were burned.
(Section 318) Then the wind suddenly changed, as if by divine
prescience, and blowing fiercely in the opposite direction, spread the
flames over the wall, which was totally engulfed from top to bottom.
(Section 319) The Romans, therefore, assisted by divine intervention,
returned delightedly to their camp with the intention of attacking their
enemy next day, and throughout the night kept a particularly careful
watch in case any of them should escape in secret. (The defenders of
Masada committed suicide before the final Roman assault.)
In the field the Roman army was supported by well-organized artillery. Vegetius
tells us that a large, rock-throwing engine was attached to each legionary cohort;
smaller engines, which fired iron bolts and were mounted on carts pulled by
oxen, were attached to each century. Roman technological achievement in siege
warfare probably did not surpass that of the Hellenistic Greek kings, but Roman
commanders were adept in deploying all their resources of artillery and skills
of siege and circumvallation, even in very unhelpful terrain such as Masada