Elenco Catapult - Manual (Page 8)

6
Catapults
Types of Siege Engines
To understand siege weapons, it is important
to discover the way battles were fought during
Da Vinci’s time. Sieges were commonplace and occurred when an army surrounded
an enemy castle with the intent of forcing surrender. This method potentially took
time since a castle under siege could hold out for months or even years, as long as
they had adequate provisions and supplies. Invading armies needed new siege engines
to speed up the process. These devices were used to bring down massive stonewalls that
defended castles, which brought the siege to a quicker and more favorable end for the
attackers.
The Battering Ram
A large object, like the trunk of a tree, used to break down the doors of a castle. Larger ones were
used to directly attack stonewalls. These battering rams were often part of a structure called a
siege tower, which was a fortified building on wheels that could be rolled up against the walls
of the castle. Inside the structure was the battering ram that would break down walls.