Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

H76 DEVICES FOR DEFENSE.Movable towers of several stories set on wheels came intouse as an easier means of overriding the walls than mounds.They were built at a distance beyond range of missiles, androlled up by men. The lower story often held the ram.The besieged used converse means of defense. They constructedwooden shields against the besiegers' fire, threw downthe ladders of the storming parties, poured hot water or boilingoil or pitch upon them, and rolled heavy stones from thewalls. They made sorties to destroy the besiegers' works, toreestablish communications with the outside world, or to cut\J^AU\- // \\ W ALLTT-rTTTTTTrrvffTT?sn!3^tf9Tyg^vn IBreach in Wall.n 11 rtheir way out. They raised the walls, built curtains or halfmoonsinside a breach, countermined to destroy the enemy'smines, and set his works on fire by arrows tipped with tarredtow, or by fire-pots cast by the catapults, or by other similarmeans.Sieges were very laborious. The defense was apt to bedesperate, for the capture of a city resulted in the slaying orselling into slavery of all the inhabitants. Terms were rarelymade, or if made were often violated. Sieges were thereforelong in duration, and cost enormously in men and treasure.Good faith in ancient war was not universal. A pledge wasby no means sacred. Heralds alone were inviolate, and notalways they.Fleets. — War at seaand war on land were much less differentin olden times than to-day. AU Greek soldiers weremore or less sailors ; all generals were equally admirals.