Spring-Frame Arrow-Firing Catapult

 

Reconstruction of the Catapult from Caminreal, Spain

Miletus Gastraphetes, Bow-Firing Missile Launcher, Shramm's Interpretation

 

"Shramm's interpretation of the launcher results in a solid workmanlike machine. but he departed from Biton's description in several key areas. The raised block that can be seen on the slider is perforated to guide the twin arrows. (Author's drawing after Shramm)

Reference:

D.B. Campbell, "Greek and Roman Artillery, 399BC - AD363," Osprey Publishing, New Vanguard, 89, UK, 2003

Plinthion --Spring Frame, Arrow-Firing Catapult

 

"The spring-frame was designed to hold the two torsion-springs under extreme tension. The syrinx (body of the weapon) fitted into the gap between the two springs, forming a window (dioptra) up above, through which the gunner could take his aim." (Authors drawing)

Reference:

D.B. Campbell, "Greek and Roman Artillery, 399BC -- AD363," Osprey Publications, New Vanguard, 89, UK, 2003

Miletus Gastraphetes, Bow-Firing Missile Launcher

 

"Marsden's interpretation of this launcher is very similar to Schramm's except for the stand. Here, the three legs are splayed, two to the front, and one to the rear, on a Y-shaped base. An additional strut is required to support the stock of the machine (Authors drawing after Marsden)"

Reference:

Duncan B. Campbell, "Greek and Roman Artillery, 399 BC -AD 363," Osprey Publishing, New Vanguard, 89, UK, 2003.

Medieval Ship

 

"It is indeed little that we know of the ships following the Fall of the Roman Empire and the first re-awakenings of the pictorial art in the West. We offer then, the Gokstadt ship. There were seagoing ships at this time we know from the sagas and the monkish manuscripts

We may also believe that there was little change in the craft that sailed the seas or skirted the rocky shores. So, to picture a ship of this era is to engage our imaginations and limiting our horizons by our scanty knowledge. Therefore, be lenient, we pray thee for and with our daydream above."

Henry B. Culver, "The Book of Old Ships," Dover Publications Inc., New York, 1992

Siege Operations Against Tartar Town Fort

 

Siege Tower

 

Plan For the Attack on the Tartar City

 

Bridge over the Dnieper River

 

This bridge was designed and drawn by Marcus Audens, for the Byzantine Campaign against the Tartars, 1007 A.D. This is a internet game being played by two members of the Byzantium Novum Militarium, based on a campaign which actually took place in the area.. The bridge is constructed from timber found on the spot, and materials gained in the defeat of the Tartar forces North of the River.

Land Wall At the City of Side

 

Secondary Gate at the City of Side

 

Main Gate at the City of Side

 

Heracleia on Latmus

 

The magnificent ruins of the Hellenic fortifications have been preserved here and there on a ridge of the rocks towering over Lake Bafa. Both towers have been outlined in ink to assist in viewing against a light background.

Tower at Diocaesararia

 

This tower is viewed from the East. Two doors have been discovered in the tower; one on the ground floor (in the southern wall), the other on the second floor (in the eastern wall). The designation of the latter is subject to debate. Some scholars believe that it was the second entrance to the tower, others think that it opened onto a balcony, and was made solely for amenity. The fact that the door leads to a stone staircase connecting the stories, not to a room, seems to lend weight to the former interpretation.

Towers AT Perge and Diocaesararia

 

(1) Perge late third century BC. This is a typical rectangular three story tower. The first story is blind, the second is pierced for slits, and the upper story has large windows (three on each projecting side). The tower could accommodate at least one five-mina stone projector, or several arrow-firing devices. (1A)

(2) The tower at Diocaesararia, third century BC is an example of a typical private residential tower. Of it's six stories, the three lower ones have five rooms each, and each of the upper three is partitioned into four rooms each. Communication between the stories was by a stone staircase. Two entrances led into the tower one on the ground floor (in the southern wall) and the other in the second floor (in the eastern wall).

(3) The U-shaped tower at Assos, late 3rd century BC, was built in the age of artillery, the tower radically differs from the other towers at Assos. It had a single chamber on a single floor reached via an arched entrance. With the help of a system of pulleys, a catapult could be shifted to fire from any of the five embrasures in the tower.

The Curtain Walls At Perge

 

Built in the late third century BC, the fortifications at Perge were revolutionary for their time. The curtain walls were of two structural types; single solid wall, and a wall with buttresses, arches, a mural gallery, and embrasures for arrow-firing devices. This illustration shows the latter type, from the interior and exterior. The wall provides two levels for the defense; an upper wall-walk, and a mural gallery. The former was wide enough to accommodate a three span catapult, but the mural gallery was considerably narrower; there is only room for archers. It is possible however, that temporary wooden planking was placed between the arches during a siege, allowing additional arrow-firing devices to be mounted here.

The main or West Gate at Assos

 

The gate proper, revealed by false pointed arches at the front and at the back, has been destroyed. However, two rectangular towers flanking the gate are fairly well preserved. The left hand one is 16 meters high, and only has slits on the second floor. There are two corbels with square sockets above the slits. Flags may have been placed in these sockets. The towers had battlements, evidenced by a now lost drainage gutter in the upper course. The left tower has been outlined in ink to make it more visible against the sky.

The Main Gate at Sillyon

 

This gate consisting of two flanking towers with a semicircular courtyard behind them, represents a type very common in Pamphylia. A postern was made in the right hand tower, which the defenders could use for a surprise attack on the enemy.

The Fortifications of Pergamon

 

These are the fortifications at the entrance to the acropolis of Pergamon. On the left are the ruins of the tower built
from isodomic ashlar -- one of the few remaining examples of the fortifications built in the early 2nd century BC by Eumenes II. The walls on the right of the tower were made from roughly worked stones alternating with broken tiles using mortar; these fortifications date back to the Byzantine period. The picture has been outlined in ink to make the picture clearer against a light colored sky and background.

Fortifications of Priene

 

The fortifications of Priene were erected in the 4th century BC, supposedly after Alexander the Great's march across Asia Minor in 334 BC. About 30 towers protected the walls of the acropolis and the city lying below. One of the towers is shown in this photo. The tower photo is outlined in ink to better understand it's shape and construction.

Map Following TARTAR Attack

 

Map shows the boundry of the new Praefecture of the Dnieper River.
The scale is 30 miles, and the topography of 100 and 200 meters is shown. The new road to Byzantium is also shown as well as the proposed sites for the walled fort and mole-bridge across the river, with a detailed view of the river mouth.

Attack on the TARTARS --BNDefense@yahoogroups.com

 

Battle At the Dnieper River

10 Legions of Magyar Heavy Infantry oppose 3 legions of Tartar Heavy Infantry, across the River. One legion of Cavalry to cover the lower escape route. Two siege towers sited behind ditch and parapet, assist in the attack with artillery consisting of two 3-talent stone projectors, and four Hatra Ballista.

Towers

 

1. (first picture set to left) Perge; late third century BC. This is a typical three-stoy stone tower. The first story is blind, the second story is pierced by slits, and the third (upper) story has large windows, three in each projecting side. The tower could accommodate at least one five-mina stone projector, or several arrow firing devices (See 1A just above the tower).

2. (second picture - center) The tower at Diocaesarea, third century BC is an example of a "tyrsis" or private residential tower. Of it's six storeys, the three lower ones have five rooms each, and each of the three upper ones are partitioned into four rooms each. Communication between the storeys was by stone staircase. Two entrances led into the tower; one on the ground floor (in the southern wall), and the other on the second floor (in the eastern wall).

3. (right hand picture) The u-shaped tower at Assos, late third century BC, built in the age of artillery, the tower radically differs from the other towers at Assos, It had a single chamber on a single floor, reached via an arched entrance. With the help of a system of pulleys, a catapult could be shifted to fire from any of the five embrasures in the tower.

Reference;

K,S. Nossov, "Greek Fortifications of Asia Minor, 500-130 BC," Osprey Pub., Fortress Series, #90,

City of Side, Asia Minor, second view

 

City of Side, Asia Minor and the Secondary Gate Fortification

City of Side, Asia Minor

 

The City of Side and the Main Landside Gate Fortifications. Founded in the seventh century BC, Side was a prospering city during the hellenistic period. It owed it's prosperity to the advantageous position, which prompted the Cilician pirates to turn it into their naval base and slave trade centre.
The city was encircled by defensive walls sometime between 225 and 188 BC. Only fragments of the land wall protecting the peninsula on the side of the mainland survive. The reconstruction of the shoreside walls is hypothetical. The later structures of the Roman and Byzantine periods, which can be viewed at the site today, were not there in the second century BC and are not shown in this reconstruction.

The Curtains of Perge

 

Built in the late third century BC, the fortifications of Perge were revolutionary for their time. The curtains are of two structural types; a simple solid wall, and a wall with buttresses, arches, a mural gallery, and embrasures for arrow throwing devices. This illustration shows the latter type, from the interior and exterior. The wall provides two levels for defense; an upper wall-walk and a mural gallery. The former was wide enough to accommodate a three span catapult, but the mural gallery was considerably narrower: there was only room for archers. it is possible, however, that temporary wooden planking was placed between the arches during a siege, allowing additional arrow-firing devices to be mounted here.

Reference:
K. S. Nossov, "Greek Fortifications of Asia Minor 500-130 BC," Osprey Pub., Fortress Series, #90, Plate B, Pages 18-19.