Week 6 Thursday

The Onager was a torsion-powered catapult used to throw stone balls

The torsion power came from a twisted rope. This one is nylon—Romans made their torsion ropes out of human hair.

These metal pins held the rope’s tension once it was wound tight.

Though not exactly “mobile”, metal-shod wheels allowed the contraption to be moved around a battlefield during a siege

This ratchet was used to pull down the catapult arm

This leather bag held the ammo. It was used most often to throw stone balls, but also sometimes clay firepots 

One end of the sling was hooked over this rod: when the catapult arm reached the top of its arc, the ring slid off the rod and flung the stone ball ammo.

The release mechanism. A pair of metal “fingers” holds the catapult arm under tension: pushing the handle releases the cord and shoots the catapult.