Governing the emergency: political organisation and social cohesion in a city under siege in Philo of Byzantium’s Μηχανικὴ Σύνταξις

Abstract

This paper analyses Philo of Byzantium's reflections on the liveability of cities under siege, focusing on Μηχανικὴ Σύνταξις as a key text in Hellenistic siegecraft manuals. Through an examination of the sections dedicated to defence, supply, and community management, the article proposes to interpret Philo's work as an integrated model of urban emergency governance. The resistance of the polis is outlined not only as a military problem, but also as a political, economic and social issue, based on preventive preparation, rational resource management, and civic cohesion. In dialogue with the theoretical tradition and historiographical evidence on sieges, the contribution highlights how Philo anticipates a concept of “urban resilience” in which liveability, social order, and the legitimacy of public authority are structurally interdependent elements.