Xi'an City Wall

18. Ancient Weapons

This is a kind of winch. A thick stick was fixed over a herringbone-shape brace, with long and strong rope winding about. The end of the rope had a hook, which could hold things weighing up to 1000 Kg. Soldiers threw the hook out to catch the weapons of the attacking enemies below the city walls, such as a wooden shelter, or a scaling ladder, etc.