The Iron Army: Assyria - Deadly and Effective Siege Machine - Part II

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The Iron Army: Assyria - Deadly and Effective Siege Machine - Part II

The Iron Army: Assyria - Deadly and Effective Siege Machine - Part II

While the ram attempted to smash and loosen the rocky walls, Assyrian assault teams with scaling ladders would try to breach walls. The ram, while effective, was also vulnerable to enemy defenders dropping chains to pull the battering pole aside. Because of this issue, the Assyrians deployed men who counter this by hooking the chains with iron grapples. The prophet Joel gives a description of the Assyrian wall scaling:

“They rush upon the city;
    they run along the wall.
They climb into the houses;
    like thieves they enter through the windows.”

[Read Part I]

Joel’s description is quite accurate. Besides reliance on battering rams to bring down the walls, they also looked to sappers.


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