The myth of the mangonel: torsion artillery in the Middle Ages
Peter Purton
Medieval siege artillery has been a subject of fascination since the antiquarians 19th century re-discovered Middle Ages and then re-created it as an image their own imagination, in process generating many false ideas. Most these myths have corrected. But one that remains to this day is torsion-powered late Roman onager lived on for another millennium form mangonel.
Arms & Armour