![]() ![]() Some catapults could throw stones weighing as much as350 pounds for distances greater than 300 feet. If you have a look at the images above, you’ll see that the onager (the image on the right) was nothing but a much simplified version.The catapult was an ancient siege machine that could hurl heavyobjects or shoot arrows with great force and for considerabledistances. However, the onager is a much smaller siege weapon that was designed on the same lines as the mangonel. It was the third deadliest siege weapon of the Medieval Era, and was also sometimes called the Onager. Mangonels differ from the ballistas because unlike the ballistas, the path of the object projected by these machines is an arc. Now, if you are wondering where on the mangonel does one place the object to be thrown, then let us tell you that it was kept on the hollow bowl that was carved on the arm-like projection. Initially, it had a sling on which the projectile was placed but later on, the sling was replaced by a wooden arm.Īmong the three types of catapults, the range of the mangonel is the longest, and an object shot using it can reach up to a distance of around 1300 feet! Even though it is larger in size than the Ballista, it is small when compared to the huge trebuchet and has wheels attached to its base. The word Mangonel is derived from the Greek word manganon which means ‘an engine of war’. They wanted something that could cause similar destruction as the Greek ballista, and yet, was smaller and mobile. The credit for inventing the mangonel goes to the Romans who designed the weapon in around 400 B.C. ![]() The only difference was that the springald had a vertical springboard fixed at its lower end, and was meant for use in compact spaces. The ballista was modified to form the S pringald, a weapon that worked on the same principle as a ballista. However, its major drawback was its short range. It was one of the most accurate siege instruments of the Medieval Era. It is said that one of the major reasons the Romans were so successful in building up such a huge empire is that they used the ballista to destroy walls of forts and enemy cities, in seconds. The ballista works on the principle of the catapult, where the tension of a twisted rope is used to throw huge stones at high speeds along a flat trajectory. It was immobile and had to be constructed at the site of warfare. It was used to fire arrows and other sharp objects and was also called the dart-throwing machine. The second oldest siege weapon in history, the name is derived from the Greek word ballista which means ‘to throw’. and was similar to the modern crossbow in appearance. The ballista was invented by the Greeks in the 8th century B.C. Here we shall learn about the different kinds of catapults used during the Middle Ages. Be it the massive trebuchet or the mangonel, they were all feared for their ability to cause widespread devastation. Medieval catapults varied widely in shape, size and design, although the purpose of use was almost the same. What’s more, most of them weren’t even portable! They were constructed on site before a battle began and were mostly built from wood. These Medieval ‘monsters’ were really huge and it was scary to see them in action. They were used to hurl a host of objects to agonize the enemy, and had been instrumental in the conquest of many cities. These massive weapons of the Medieval times were known to have the power to bring down castles and forts. ![]() However, if you have watched movies depicting the Middle Ages, say Gladiator, Troy or Lord of the Rings – Return of the King, then you probably know how different types of catapults were used as weapons of destruction. When we think of catapults, what we conceive is a toy kids play with. ![]()
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