How wide is an Arrowslit?

Located inside, and used to defend soldiers against the enemy, they are kept as narrow as possible (about 10 cm in width) with variable length. Slits usually average from 80 – 90 cm to 5 meters in height.

What is a slit in castle?

It's said that the slits were “the height of a man and about a palm's width on the outside”, and allowed defenders to shoot bows and the siege engine scorpions from within the city walls. Arrowslits were also used in late Greek and Roman defences, but they were not present in early Norman castles.

Why did castles have arrow slits?

Arrow-loops or arrow-slits were narrow openings or crosses set inside walls and towers enabling defenders to launch arrows at potential attackers from outside. After gunpowder was introduced, round openings were often added to accommodate firearms.

Why are the windows so narrow or shaped like crosses on castles?

Arrowslits had to be narrow to protect defending archers, commonly there was also a horizontal line, these openings formed a cross shape, and circular-shaped openings could also be added which created a larger firing point for the archers defending the castle.

What is the slit in a bunker called?

An embrasure is the opening in a battlement between the two raised solid portions, referred to as crenel or crenelle in a space hollowed out throughout the thickness of a wall by the establishment of a bay.

Can I build a bunker in my backyard?

A backyard bunker may be exactly what you need to protect your family. When building an underground shelter make sure to have at least 2 feet of dirt over the top. This layer of Earth will protect your family from gamma radiation in the event of a nuclear attack. The deeper the bunker the better.

How deep is the deepest underground bunker?

Deepest Bunker: The deepest underground bunker is the Central Military China Commission's Joint Military Command Centre in Bejing, located 2,000 meters underground. It is said that the bunker should hold one million people. Deepest Cave: The Veryovkina Cave, at a depth of 2,212 meters, is the world's deepest cave.

Why do castle gates open inwards?

It is easier to push gates closed against an enemy than to pull them closed. Doors that open inwards are always under the control of the castle and protected by the stonework. You can barricade the door from the inside with rubble to prevent access. In case of attack, the people closing the door are protected.

Why were castle walls so thick?

Castle walls were made thicker at the bottom to preclude the possibility of tunneling from the enemy.

What are the slit windows in a castle called?

An arrowslit (often also referred to as an arrow loop, loophole or loop hole, and sometimes a balistraria) is a narrow vertical aperture in a fortification through which an archer can launch arrows or a crossbowman can launch bolts.

What was at the top of the gate on a castle?

Portcullises fortified the entrances to many medieval castles, securely closing off the castle during time of attack or siege.

Do dungeons have to be underground?

A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period.

What are the towers on a castle called?

Tower (or Keep)

The tower is a circular or square building, which was used as a lookout and for defence. The central tower in a motte and bailey castle was known as the keep.

What is a Postern in a castle?

A postern is a secondary door or gate in a fortification such as a city wall or castle curtain wall. Posterns were often located in a concealed location which allowed the occupants to come and go inconspicuously.

What are windows in a fort called?

Bomb-proof chambers in a fort which guns are fired through windows, called embrasures.

What is a passage in a castle called?

Allure or Wall-walk: passage behind the parapet of a castle wall.

Were castles clean or dirty?

Castles were very difficult to keep clean. There was no running water, so even simple washing tasks meant carrying a lot of bucketfuls of water from a well or stream. Few people had the luxury of being able to bathe regularly; the community was generally more tolerant of smells and dirt.

How did they keep castles warm?

Castles weren't always cold and dark places to live.

But, in reality, the great hall of castle had a large open hearth to provide heat and light (at least until the late 12th century) and later it had wall fireplace. The hall would also have had tapestries which would have insulated the room against too much cold.

Do castles have foundations?

Foundations. For stone built castles the foundations would, wherever possible, been built directly onto the bedrock. The builders would dig down to the rock before leveling it to create the strongest possible foundation. The stones for the walls would be laid directly onto the bedrock.

Why do European doors open outward?

Doors open outwards in Sweden because, traditionally, Swedish homes had double-entrance doors. One door opened outward, away from the home. Another door opened inward, swinging into the home. The purpose of the double-door entrance was for warmth, spaciousness, and safety.

How thick is a portcullis?

Our portcullis is made of iron, is 10' x 10', and has 1" thick square section bars ar 6" intervals arranged in a grid. I'm assuming that the very bottom of the grid has no bar across it, and therefore has medieval looking spikes along it!

Did medieval gates open in or out?

Medieval gates opened inwards, and for a number of good reasons. 1. Humans can push things better than we can pull them. It's easier to push a gate shut than to pull it shut.

How deep does an underground have to be to survive a nuclear blast?

Packed earth insulates against radiation and blast waves, but don't go deeper than 10 feet; because if your exits (make two) become blocked in the blast, you may need to dig yourself out.

How thick are bunker walls?

The walls of your bunker also need to be at least 1-3 feet thick. If you're using metal sheets, make sure to add a layer of brick or concrete inside. If you're using concrete, make sure that the walls are thick and reinforced to add extra protection against explosive shockwaves and radiation.

What is the safest bunker in the world?

Located in the heart of Rothenstein, Germany, is this five-star, invitation-only luxury survival bunker designed for billionaires. Said to be the world's largest and safest bunker, private apartments cost £1.8 million ($2.2m) while semi-private suites start at £31,000 ($38k) per person.