The other big question mark about the defence of the city was the lack of any counter measure to the ringwraiths flying beasties. Given the cities rather vertal design it should have been easy enough to string chains ( or at a pinch thick rope ) between the towers of the different levels thus imparing the ability of the ringwraiths to strafe the city.
Actually, catapults/trebuchets/mangonels were mostly used to destroy the wooden hoardings that were typically built over the top of walls in times of siege. These were basically huts built projecting out over the wall. They had large shuttered windows which allowed archers to fire out but shelter while reloading, and holes in the floor to allow stones etc to be dropped on any enemy daft enough to run up to the base of the wall. You can often still see the sockets used for the supporting beams in many surviving Medieval Walls. Obviously shuttering the crenels (gaps in the crenellations - the stone bits were called merlons) and adding machiolations (holes to drop stuff down) to your stone wall would also do this, but not as effectively, and without protection from the weather for the defending troops (like at Helms Deep...). Therefore, destroying these hoardings was of prime importance during a siege, and this was the first task of the artillery. once you clear the wall's defences, you then remove the wall.
He certainly said that they were once elves - or rather, their ancestors were Elvish. (Elvish Prestley? )
He said, "Orcs were once Elves, tortured, (...) a miserable from of life - and now... perfected." About the siege weapons, it was something my historian friend also remarked on when we went to see King Arthur (don't go, folks! ). According to Hollywood, armies of whatever age and function on the battlefield must have some kind of artillery to wipe out dozens of little guys at a time. They always have; whether it's on the defence, or in the open field, there will always be some great balls of fire flying. :-? Ricky, plural for Ballista would indeed be Ballistae.
Yes, why do battle scenes always have to include fire and/or explosions? The opening scene of Gladiator is a perfect example... Or the Saracen chappie in 'Robin Hood; Prince of Theives' knowing about gunpowder... I was surprised that Stirling Bridge in 'Braveheart' passed with barely a flame. In reality, it should also be pointed out that fiery arrows do not actually burn with flame as they fly, but smoulder. The speed they fly at would put out any flame... Neither are they arrows with a flaming piece of cloth wrapped around them. They are arrows with the arrowhead shaped like a birdcage, stuffed with tar-soaked cloth. As soon as they land, the flames bursts out. Oh, yes, and flaming missiles are another siege-only (and naval battle) weapon. Basically when you need to set fire to enemy structures, but not the battlefield. Like they did in Gladiator: "Quick men, set fire to the forest. Now charge! So... why didn't we get burnt?" :roll:
I'd like to see the day that the Romans decide a battle with a cavalry charge! Good points here, Ricky. I never would have guessed the inaccuracy went that far.
Well, cavalry attacking the rear of a body of troops was always a good option... However, cavalry in forest = dead cavalry Also from Gladiator: Roman soldiers breaking ranks & fighting numerous one-to-one engagements in the manner of Celts? Do the people who made that film even know how the Roman army fought? Why the Romans were able to achieve such startling victories over numerically superior foes time & time again? Yes, that's right, because they didn't break ranks & fight numerous one-to-one engagements in the manner of Celts. :roll: :angry: :bang: :kill: Can you guess that this kind of this irks me a tad...
What is one Roman soldier? A guy with a ridiculously short sword and a huge unwieldly shield, who is also physically overwhelmed by the size and muscle of your average Northen European warrior. However, in formation... A Roman army would avoid a forest if it could, and rely on formations of infantry to fight for them instead of cavalry charges and individual combat. A good point about Alexander is that it shows formations of hoplites fighting!
I didn't know that LOTR had Roman's in! BTW I think Roel is right about orcs and Elves. Elves 'evolved' into orcs, and orcs (along with men) made Uruk-Hai.
The assault on Helm's Deep, IMHO, had a rather Roman flavor to it, especially when the Orcs stopped and beat on their shields. The Romans often did this, to scare the enemy, usually successfully.
That is a very common tactic. The Vikings used it, as well as just about every Cetlic and Germanic tribe during Roman times (except that they also yelled very loudly). What makes the Uruk-Hai fight "Roman" is that they fight in close formation, practically impenetrable for cavalry. If Gandalf hadn't ridden ahead with his blinding light the riders of Rohan would all have been run through and left to die on the Uruk flank.
As did the English up Senlac Hill when the Normans came up. Apparently yelling "Out, Out" in response to the Normans singing the Song of Roland, and Yelling about how God had blessed their invasion... But, back to LOTR - yes, the lifting of the Helm's Deep siege is another area where Bad Guys fight clever. You are eradicting a nation that fights on horseback? Send in pikemen. That charge should have been stopped cold... Thanks, that's what 4 years of Uni does to you!
They should have surrendered upon hearing the Song of Roland! :angry: (As you may have guessed, Roel is derived from Roland, known here as Roeland)
If the charge had been stopped cold, the movie would have been ruined. Personally, I liked the charge; the only thing that would have improved it would have been John Wayne and a bugler!
Whenever I watch the Rohirrim attack on the oliphants in "Return of the King", I am always forcibly reminded of the Battle of Hoth in "The Empire Strikes Back". I keep expecting someone to say "Echo Station 3-TA, we have spotted Imperial walkers", or to have Luke Skywalker lead the snowspeeders in to the attack. :lol:
Yeah, considering that in the books the Elephaunts didn't play much of a role at all and in any case there were very few of them, I think Peter Jackson may have been inspired by the Hoth scenes of Star Wars... Swap light saber for bow & arrows, change Luke into Legolas and you're done! Luckily the comical sidekick is as small as R2D2.
