Battering Ram

Battering rams were used when laying siege to a city. They were intended to make holes in the city wall or to smash the city gates. The Assyrians were the first to use battering rams. This made them very successful in sieges.

A battering ram was made of wood and covered in leather and metal. It consisted of a sturdy pole with a strong metal head. The pole swung from two ropes, so that the battering ram could easily be swung back and forth. A wooden box was built around the battering ram for protection, and the whole construction was placed on a cart.

First, the battering ram was wheeled up close to the city wall on its cart. Because many cities were set on a hill, earthworks were made first, especially ramps.

Then the pole with the metal head was bashed against the wall very hard, so that the head got stuck between the stones. Then the pole was manoeuvred back and forth until the stones gave way.

The defenders of the city shot burning torches and arrows at the wooden battering rams. In this way they tried to set the battering rams on fire. To prevent them catching fire, the attackers draped animal skins over the battering rams and kept these wet with water.