Siege Mounds

SPECIAL TOPIC: SIEGE MOUNDS

In the ANE walled cities were captured by surrounding them, thereby cutting off the food supply. At the sign of danger the people from the surrounding villages fled to the walled cities. Therefore, the water, sanitation, and food systems were stressed. The enemy built dirt mounds against the wall(s). These mounds supported wooden, mobile A-frames which held a ramming mechanism (cf. Jer. 6:6; 33:4; Isa. 37:33). These rams would hit the stone/brick wall again and again in one place until they crumbled.