machicolation
Machicolation is a defensive military architecture technique used during the Middle Ages, particularly in the 14th and 15th centuries. It involves the construction of platforms or galleries along the upper edges of castle walls, from which projectiles such as stones, arrows, or boiling oil could be dropped onto attackers below. These platforms were often reinforced with wooden beams and sometimes even covered with earth or other materials to provide additional protection.
The term "machicolation" comes from the Italian word "macchinetta," which means "little machine." The structures were
The effectiveness of machicolation varied depending on the specific design and the materials used. Some castles
Despite their eventual decline in use with the advent of more advanced siege weapons and artillery, machicolations