The siege tower is also known as a breaching tower or belfry. It consists of wood and sometimes metal supports under a raised platform. The purpose of the siege tower is to transfer troops over the enemy wall. It is often the main target of catapults that fling large stones over the wall. It has a non-flammable covering of iron or animal skins and it carries pikemen, swordsman, and crossbowmen that shoot arrows at the defenders and it sometimes has a battering ram on the bottom to break through the lower part of the wall. When close, a drawbridge falls, making a bridge to get over the wall of the defender. The siege tower was used in the 11th century in the ancient near East and in the fourth century BC in Europe and in the Far East. The oldest known siege tower is from the ninth century, and it was used by the Neo-Assyrian empire. The largest was 135 feet high and 65.7 feet wide. Now you can see why the Siege tower was so popular and used very often in ascent battles.
