![]() There are records which show that the catapult was also employed by the armies of ancient China as well. The use of catapults, however, was not limited to the Roman army. ( Public Domain ) Chinese Traction Catapults ![]() Another type of catapult, which had a sling, was known as the ‘scorpion’, as a shot from this device is reported to resemble the movement of a scorpion’s tail.Ī Roman onager with sling (‘Scorpion’). One suggestion for this name’s origins is that the Romans likened the stones that were hurled by the catapult to the rocks kicked up behind galloping hooves.Īn alternate suggestion is that the device jumped when it fired its projectiles. In the Roman world, a catapult-like siege engine known as the ‘onager’ (meaning ‘wild ass’) was used when the Romans were besieging an enemy. ![]() In its most basic form, the catapult may be described as a “one-armed stone thrower”. The catapult was a weapon used since ancient times. The catapult was one of the most efficient of these war machines. It was usually quite difficult for an enemy to capture a castle, and for that, an attacking army needed siege engines. This defensive structure was often heavily fortified and provided its inhabitants with much-needed safety. One of the most iconic images of the European Middle Ages is the castle.
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