The History of Siege Engines

The History of Siege Engines
 One of the problems with
warfare throughout history was
that enemies had the annoying
habit of hiding behind
fortifications. The solution: to
find a way of beating down,
piercing or otherwise
destroying part of the wall so as
to gain entry. Enter the siege
engine.
 Alternatively, it was equally
important to be able to keep
others intent on destroying
your walls at bay. This made
devices that launched darts at
attackers a welcome invention.
 The word “catapult” comes from a Greek phrase that
means to “throw downward.”
 A catapult is a device that
shoots or launches a
projectile by mechanical
means, a great distance
without the aid of explosive
devices.
 There are numerous types
of catapult siege engines,
but the three most wellknown categories are the
trebuchet, the ballista
and the mangonel.
 Gravity powered sling that uses a large
counterweight.
 Comes from the French word
trebucher meaning “throw over.”
 Believed to have been created by the
Chinese in 300 BC.
 Was the most powerful of the
catapults.
 Arrived in Europe around 500 AD.
 Consisted of a long arm (could be up
to 60 ft long) balanced on a fulcrum
that was far from center. The short
arm was attached to a
counterbalance; a heavy lead weight
or a pivoting ballist box filled with
earth, sand, or stones. A sling was
attached to the end of the long arm.
 Similar to a giant
crossbow.
 Tension powered.
 Launched darts.
 Comes from the Greek
word ballistes which
means “to throw.”
 Torsion powered.
 Usually stored energy in
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wound rope or sinew.
Hurled objects from a
cup on an arm.
1,300 foot range.
Capabilities in between a
Ballista and a Trebuchet.
From the Latin word
manganon, meaning “an
engine of war.”