The moment of truth finally came in 305 B.C. when, as told by Weapons and Warfare, Demetrius Poliorcetes, son of Antigonus invaded Rhodes following a successful campaign to take Cyprus from Ptomely of Egypt. Bolstering a massive siege army, the son of the former general spent 305-304 B.C. attempting to take Rhodes.
On paper, Demetrius and his army should have easily overwhelmed and destroyed the Rhodian forces. According to Geographics, the island nation faced an invasion force of 40,000 men, as well as swarms of pirate ships hoping to plunder the city after it fell. By comparison, Rhodes' military was made up of only 7,000 men. However, because of their strong fortifications in the city, and a defended harbor that allowed them to receive support from Ptolemy and stave off starvation, the Rhodians were able to weather the onslaught. Despite their overwhelming numbers and vast weaponry, Demetrius' army just could not break through the walls of the city.
In an act of desperation, Demetrius ordered the construction of many siege weapons, such as catapults and battering rams. Their most famous weapon was the Helepolis, a siege tower standing at 131 feet high, 65 feet wide and weighing over 160 tons. Made of up wood and covered in iron plates to prevent fires, Demetrius' army was still unable to take the city. Finally, Demetrius sued for peace and ended the siege in defeat in 304 B.C.
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