View source for Aries (Battering Ram)

[[File:Fotothek df tg 0000158 Belagerung ^ Festung ^ Belagerungsmaschine.jpg|250px|right|Fotothek df tg 0000158 Belagerung ^ Festung ^ Belagerungsmaschine]]
__TOC__


=====Description=====

'''Aries or Battering-Ram''', was used to pierce and batter down the walls of besieged fortifications. It consisted of a large beam, made of the trunk of a tree (e.g. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine Pine] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraxinus Ash]), with a  head of a Ram, perhaps [[Sand Casting|cast]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze bronze] or [[:Category:Blacksmithing|forged]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrought_iron iron] and fixed to one end.


In its simplest form it was just a long beam held by a team of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_legion '''Legionaries'''] who used it repeatedly to strike at a portion of the wall to weaken and penetrate it. Larger versions were suspended on rope or chains inside a large framework to make it easier to give it a rapid and forceful swinging motion. Alternatively the beam could be pushed backwards and forwards on rollers to make it easier. A further refinement was to place the framework within a '''[[Testudo]]''' to provide some protection for those using the Ram.


The beam of the '''Aries''' could be as much as 30 or 40 metres in length. Such long beams would be able to act across any intervening ditch, and would afford some protection to those operating it. As many as a hundred [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_legion '''Legionaries'''] or more were sometimes employed to strike with the beam.


=====Box Modelled Battering Ram=====

A model of an '''Aries''' or '''Battering Ram''' can be made using methods described in the '''[[Box Modelling|DT Online Box Modelling]]''' article.


[[File:BoxModelRams.png|600px|center]]


=====Model Aries in Stripwood=====

A more realistic working model of an '''Aries''' or '''Battering Ram''' can be made using '''[[:Category:Stripwood Technology|Stripwood Technology]]''' techniques, tools and materials as described in that section of '''[[:Category:Stripwood Technology|DT Online]]'''.


[[File:StripwoodRams.png|800px|center]]


----
<span style="color: blue">'''Activity:'''
Find out about Roman Siege Equipment ''(e.g. [[Vinea]], [[Vinea|Pluteus]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantlet Mantelet], [[Testudo]], [[Musculus]], [[Siege Tower Model|Helepolis]], [[Siege Tower Model|Turris]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvus_(boarding_device) Corvus], [[Ballista|Ballista (aka Scorpion)]], [[Onager]], [[Aries (Battering Ram)]]'' and construct a working model or models using '''[[:Category:Stripwood Technology|Stripwood Technology]]'''.
</span>
----


[[Category:The Romans]]
[[Category:Primary Technology]]
[[Category:Topics, Projects and Tasks]]