Ram (machine of war)

History

The ram was already used in antiquity. The files of Husband , shelves dantant of thousand-year-old IIe front J. - C., indicate that the ram existed already at that time. Vitruve (first century BC) mentions it in its treaty of architecture. Tertullien, born at the end of Ier century a. J. - C., allots very freely the invention of it to the Carthaginians.

It is a traditional weapon of the Moyen-âge. Thanks to the ram, the heavy doors of the besieged fortresses are battered. It is also used to shake walls enclosing, either not very thick, or badly maintained, and to cause there breaches more quickly than by the sap.

Form

It consists of a long beam (armed with an iron head), actuated as a beam which will knock against the door of the castle. The beam is suspended by ropes or chains. To ensure its protection, like those of the manipulators, the ram can be capped of a roof or girdled of a timber shuttering.

Generally, the ram is covered with wet skins in order to resist the ignited projectiles longer than throw the defenders.

Handling

It is necessary, at least, ten soldiers to move it. So that the ram can reach the base of the fortifications, the ditches should, au préalable, be filled.

See too

Poliorcétique

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