A device for raising water, the Archimedean screw consists of an external cylinder surrounding a screw. The bottom of the cylinder and screw must be immersed in water, which is not correctly depicted here. If the…

A battering ram with an iron tip in the shape of a ram's head.

A soldier ascends a drawbridge supported by ropes hanging from supporting beams.

The image shows a soldier climbing a siege ladder alongside a schematic of a different ladder in three parts that can be screwed together.

The mangonel was a type of catapult used generally for hurling stones at a besieged castle's walls. As Vegetius writes, "But the mangonel shoots stones, and throws various weights in proportion to the thickness of the…

A siege engine in the form of a portable shelter behind which soldiers could take cover and advance in the face of projectiles. This one appears to be equipped with a perforated grate in the middle through which the…

A mobile wooden siege wall concealing a soldier firing a mortar.

Artist's depiction of Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, commonly referred to as Vegetius, a writer from the Later Roman Empire (circa 4th century) who wrote extensively on military matters.

This image depicts a horseshoe with nails, a farrier shoeing a horse, and a farrier's rasp.

The siege hook, or falx, was a siege engine dating back to Roman times. Similar to a battering ram, the siege hook was tipped with a pry bar, and the ram had handles for twisting and either splintering wooden doors or…

A fortified tower filled with soldiers is raised using a telescoping leg system driven by a pulley.

Soldiers ride in a wheeled siege vehicle with windows for firing weapons.

Soldier holding a sling used for hurling projectiles and an enlarged view of the sling itself.

The sling stave is a staff with a sling at the end, used for hurling smaller projectiles. In Latin it is called a fustibalus. One cord of the sling is attached to the staff or "stave" and the other end has a loop that…

A siege engine in the form of a portable shelter behind which soldiers could take cover and advance in the face of projectiles. This form is equipped with spikes to deter head-on attack from opposing forces.

Soldiers wearing armor engaged in sword combat wielding a spiked shield.

On the left is a telescoping siege device powered by a screw mechanism, and on the right is a rope ladder dangling from a castle tower.

Illustrated title page with a woodcut after Hans Weiditz by Jörg Brou the elder of Schoeller, showing a military scene with men in armor, some of whom are carrying long swords and spears in front of decorated tents.

First edition published by Heinrich Stayner of De re militari, a classic work on the science of making war by Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, commonly referred to as Vegetius, a writer from the Later Roman Empire…

A war engine with four wheels in the shape of an animal with the feet of a bird and the head of a lion, operated by three soldiers.

A siege bridge with a sliding mechanism for extending across rivers or moats.

A soldier ascends a siege ladder equipped with wheels.

A soldier ascends a wooden siege ramp.