09-14-2016, 10:57 AM
Hi all,
Just like many other aspects of Sassanian history, apparently sources are very limited about their use of mechanical artillery. I did a quick scan of available works but failed to find something reliable.
Now it is certain that leverage artillery (trebuchets) were invented in China and around 6th-7th century spread to Western side of Asia. There are some theories about the path. One theory is that Avars while moving into Europe brought this technology to West since they were familiar with Chinese military technology and possibly had some Chinese engineers with them. According to Eastern Roman sources, around last decade of 6th century, Avars certainly deployed leverage artillery against Romen city walls. The question is what was the state of Sassanian Empire during all this transmission. We know that Sassanians employed captured Roman artillery but they are torsion powered and out of topic for this discussion.
David Nicolle mentions possibility of Sassanian traction trebuchet use during siege of Jerusalem in 614 and he is certain about defending Sassanid garrison of Ctesiphon used traction trebuchets against besieging Arabs in 637.
Joseph Needham also wrote about Central Asian Turkic invasions of Persian could brought Chinese artillery technology to West around 7th century.
Also, Dehkhoda Dictionary suggest the word "mangenik" for this kind of artillery in Pahlavi and asserts that word is originally Greek.
Apart from all this piecemeal suggestions and info, could anyone provide some sources and academical works about Sassanian use of this particular type of artillery?
Thanks in advance.
Just like many other aspects of Sassanian history, apparently sources are very limited about their use of mechanical artillery. I did a quick scan of available works but failed to find something reliable.
Now it is certain that leverage artillery (trebuchets) were invented in China and around 6th-7th century spread to Western side of Asia. There are some theories about the path. One theory is that Avars while moving into Europe brought this technology to West since they were familiar with Chinese military technology and possibly had some Chinese engineers with them. According to Eastern Roman sources, around last decade of 6th century, Avars certainly deployed leverage artillery against Romen city walls. The question is what was the state of Sassanian Empire during all this transmission. We know that Sassanians employed captured Roman artillery but they are torsion powered and out of topic for this discussion.
David Nicolle mentions possibility of Sassanian traction trebuchet use during siege of Jerusalem in 614 and he is certain about defending Sassanid garrison of Ctesiphon used traction trebuchets against besieging Arabs in 637.
Joseph Needham also wrote about Central Asian Turkic invasions of Persian could brought Chinese artillery technology to West around 7th century.
Also, Dehkhoda Dictionary suggest the word "mangenik" for this kind of artillery in Pahlavi and asserts that word is originally Greek.
Apart from all this piecemeal suggestions and info, could anyone provide some sources and academical works about Sassanian use of this particular type of artillery?
Thanks in advance.
posted by Semih Koyuncu
