Siege weapon: the Battering Ram
The battering ram is not only one of the oldest siege weapons that we know of, it is also amongst those that have been in use the longest. There is documentation that the Assyrians were using the device back in the 9th century BC and modern versions continue to be used for various applications by the military and police forces (e.g. SWAT teams). The idea is to use a suspended beam to crack open a wall, a door or a gate. There were many different models produced over the years: capped vs uncapped; suspended vs rolling; rope vs chains; etc. It was also important to have some kind of a shield to protect the rammers from arrows or other projectiles being shot or thrown from above and that this shelter be as fireproof as possible. The triangular housing in this picture served such a purpose. Note on the drawing that the wooden surface is covered with animal skins. Wet animal skins did make the whole contraption somewhat fire resistant.
Siege weapon: the Battering Ram
The battering ram is not only one of the oldest siege weapons that we know of, it is also amongst those that have been in use the longest. There is documentation that the Assyrians were using the device back in the 9th century BC and modern versions continue to be used for various applications by the military and police forces (e.g. SWAT teams). The idea is to use a suspended beam to crack open a wall, a door or a gate. There were many different models produced over the years: capped vs uncapped; suspended vs rolling; rope vs chains; etc. It was also important to have some kind of a shield to protect the rammers from arrows or other projectiles being shot or thrown from above and that this shelter be as fireproof as possible. The triangular housing in this picture served such a purpose. Note on the drawing that the wooden surface is covered with animal skins. Wet animal skins did make the whole contraption somewhat fire resistant.