Peter Member
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posted 01-17-2004 01:53 PM
Phew ! You've picked a cracker there (no pun intended!). This is quite an extensive field of knowledge, and I don't think we can cover it in enough depth here for you. I haven't looked, but I'm sure there is information in 'back-posts' that could help you. There are so many variables involved with this one. And is a subject that has involved many people & places over the years. And you must remember that it was not just these siege machines alone that brought walls down. Undermining walls was also used to weaken them before a machine may be brought into action. And many were used merely to demoralise the garrison, than just to knock walls down. ie; throwing rotten cattle inside, burning materials, heads of soldiers caught ... the list goes on. These items were far easier to get hold of than stones that had to be crafted to a certain size. A siege could be a very long and expensive process. |