Modern Marvels Video

This program describes every kind of siege machine, including Mangonels, Onagers, Ballistas, Crossbows, the Trebuchets, and things you may not have known about- like the Helipolis, Oxybelles, Lithobolos and the Gastrophete!

In this video you will see all forms of catapults in action, including the fabulous machines at Caerphilly Castle in Wales (pictured above). A whole team of experts talks about the evolution of siege weaponry and how they were used. Then we take a trip to Delaware to visit the home of Pumpkin Chunking, where we see modern home-made catapults and air cannons in competition to shoot pumpkins at an old pickup truck. Can it get any better than that? Of course not!