Roman battering rams, like other rams of this type, were designed to crush defensive walls or destroy gates of fortresses. The Romans, in order to protect the soldiers moving the battering ram from defending missiles, built the ram’s beam with a huge shed on wheels. The roof of this building had special reinforcements – it was covered with fresh animal skins to prevent fire.
The battering ram had a metal ferrule and hung on special powerful ropes. The soldiers inside the ram, having approached the obstacle, had to swing the beam, which was rhythmically hitting the obstacle.
