Medieval Torsion Catapults

[Thomas V.]

While scanning through some articles, I found a different type of Ziyâr and author claims it was torsion powered. In the article, Black Camels and Blazing Bolts: The Bolt-Projecting Trebuchet in the Mamluk Army by Paul E. Chevedden;

"but a ziyâr, a machine identified in the Elegant Book, as a base mounted, two armed torsion catapult." 21.

21"An|q," fol. 33r; An|q, ed. ‘Abd al-‘Az|z, 73; An|q, ed. Hind|, 109–10: a crude drawing of a
ziya≠r, depicted as a bolt-projecting, two-armed torsion catapult mounted on a cruciform base, is
shown together with a pole-framed traction trebuchet and a trestle-framed counterweight trebuchet
atop a fortress tower. The projectile of the machine is a large bolt or shaft, identified by the term,
in Elegant Book as a base-mounted, two-armed torsion catapult.

Here, the mentioned drawing.



Author doesn't mentions if it is written in account or his own interpretation of the picture. In my opinion, this should be noted to discuss about.

Maybe the drawing shows an az-ziyar, a single-armed counterweight trebuchet launching arrows: [hide]http://www.ibttm.org/museum/sammlung/Volume5DE.pdf[/hide] (p. 110f.; pages of the catalogue itself, not the page number shown by your pdf-reader :wink.