Chelone (siege device)

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The Chelone ( Greek  χελώνη "turtle", Latin testudo ) v was a military use, portable, wooden protection device that several people offered protection from enemy fire and probably already in the 5th century. Was used by the Greeks and later also by the Romans in siege wars.

The wooden, mobile protective frame was used for the side and top-covered, direct approach of soldiers to the enemy city wall, who undermined it or tried to overcome it in some other way. Terrain work was also carried out under such mobile coverings, which mostly offered increased frontal protection. This included, in particular, filling trenches or removing other obstacles.

The larger variant, the ram turtle, was of a similar design and served to protect the tree trunk hung on the ridge purlin , namely the battering ram and its crew.

The Romans took over the highly developed Hellenistic siege technique ( Poliorketics ) and partially developed it further.

Illustrations

  • Apollodor von Damascus , Poliorketika 148: Chelone in the manuscript Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale , Graec. 2442, fol. 81v (11th / 12th century)

  • A. Testudo Simplex,
    B. Testudo Rostrata,
    C. Testudo Arietaria

  • Reconstruction of a chelone or testudo (tortoise)

  • Replica of a battering ram with protective structure (ram turtle)

literature