A merlon is the solid upright section of a battlement (a crenellatedparapet) in medieval architecture or fortifications.[1] Merlons are sometimes pierced by narrow, vertical embrasures or slits designed for observation and fire. The space between two merlons is called a crenel, and a succession of merlons and crenels is a crenellation.[2] Crenels designed in later eras for use by cannons were also called embrasures.[3]
The term merlon comes from the French language, adapted from the Italianmerlone, possibly a shortened form of mergola, connected to Latinmergae (pitchfork), or from a diminutive moerulus, from murus or moerus (a wall). An alternative etymology suggests that the medieval Latin merulus (mentioned from the end of the 10th century) functioned as a diminutive of Latin merle, "blackbird", expressing an image of this bird sitting on a wall.
As part of battlements
As an essential part of battlements, merlons were used in fortifications for millennia. The best-known examples appear on medieval buildings, where battlements, though defensive, could be attractively formed, thus having a secondary decorative purpose. Some (especially later) buildings have false "decorative battlements". The two most notable European variants in Middle Ages merlons shape were the Ghibelline and the Guelph merlon: the former ended in the upper part with a swallow-tailed form, while the latter term indicates the normal rectangular shape merlons (wimperg).
Other shapes include: three-pointed, quatrefoil, shielded, flower-like, rounded (typical of Islamic and African world), pyramidal, etc., depending either from the type of attacks expected or aesthetic considerations.
In Roman times, the merlons had a width sufficient to shelter a single man. As new weapons appeared in the Middle Ages (including crossbows and the first firearms), the merlons were enlarged and provided with loop-holes of various dimensions and shapes, varying from simply rounded to cruciform. From the 13th century, the merlons could also be used to pivot wooden shutters; these added further protection for the defenders when they were not firing, or were firing downwards near the base of the wall. The shutters, also known as mantlets, could be opened by hand, or by using a pulley.
Usage of merlons, from Eugène Viollet-le-Duc's Dictionnaire raisonné de l’architecture française du XIe au XVIe siècle
After falling out of favour when the invention of the cannon forced fortifications to take a much lower profile, merlons re-emerged as decorative features in buildings constructed in the neo-Gothic style of the 19th century.
^Friar, Stephen (2003). The Sutton Companion to Castles, Sutton Publishing, Stroud, 2003, p. 202. ISBN978-0-7509-3994-2
^J. E. Kaufmann; H. W. Kaufmann; Robert M. Jurga (2004). The medieval fortress: castles, forts and walled cities of the Middle Ages. Da Capo Press. p. 307. ISBN978-0-306-81358-0.
^Ward Bucher (1996). Dictionary of building preservation. Wiley-Interscience. pp. 43, 126, and 165. ISBN978-0-471-14413-7.
Balestracci, Duccio (1989). "I materiali da costruzione nel castello medievale". Archeologia Medievale (XVI): 227–242. doi:10.1400/244020.
Luisi, R. (1996). Scudi di pietra, I castelli e l’arte della guerra tra Medioevo e Rinascimento. Bari. ISBN88-420-5083-0.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merlons.
Look up merlon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
May 16, 2023
merlon, other, uses, disambiguation, merlon, solid, upright, section, battlement, crenellated, parapet, medieval, architecture, fortifications, sometimes, pierced, narrow, vertical, embrasures, slits, designed, observation, fire, space, between, merlons, calle. For other uses see Merlon disambiguation A merlon is the solid upright section of a battlement a crenellated parapet in medieval architecture or fortifications 1 Merlons are sometimes pierced by narrow vertical embrasures or slits designed for observation and fire The space between two merlons is called a crenel and a succession of merlons and crenels is a crenellation 2 Crenels designed in later eras for use by cannons were also called embrasures 3 Merlons of Alcazaba of Almeria in Almeria Spain Contents 1 Etymology 2 As part of battlements 3 Later use 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEtymology EditThe term merlon comes from the French language adapted from the Italian merlone possibly a shortened form of mergola connected to Latin mergae pitchfork or from a diminutive moerulus from murus or moerus a wall An alternative etymology suggests that the medieval Latin merulus mentioned from the end of the 10th century functioned as a diminutive of Latin merle blackbird expressing an image of this bird sitting on a wall As part of battlements EditAs an essential part of battlements merlons were used in fortifications for millennia The best known examples appear on medieval buildings where battlements though defensive could be attractively formed thus having a secondary decorative purpose Some especially later buildings have false decorative battlements The two most notable European variants in Middle Ages merlons shape were the Ghibelline and the Guelph merlon the former ended in the upper part with a swallow tailed form while the latter term indicates the normal rectangular shape merlons wimperg Other shapes include three pointed quatrefoil shielded flower like rounded typical of Islamic and African world pyramidal etc depending either from the type of attacks expected or aesthetic considerations In Roman times the merlons had a width sufficient to shelter a single man As new weapons appeared in the Middle Ages including crossbows and the first firearms the merlons were enlarged and provided with loop holes of various dimensions and shapes varying from simply rounded to cruciform From the 13th century the merlons could also be used to pivot wooden shutters these added further protection for the defenders when they were not firing or were firing downwards near the base of the wall The shutters also known as mantlets could be opened by hand or by using a pulley Usage of merlons from Eugene Viollet le Duc s Dictionnaire raisonne de l architecture francaise du XIe au XVIe siecle Ghibelline merlons at Saint Pierre Castle Italy Guelphs merlons in the Castle of Montechino ItalyLater use EditAfter falling out of favour when the invention of the cannon forced fortifications to take a much lower profile merlons re emerged as decorative features in buildings constructed in the neo Gothic style of the 19th century Gallery Edit Cathedral of Evora Portugal Walls of Avila Spain Torre de la Carrova Amposta Spain Moscow Kremlin Wall Russia Sao Jorge Castle Lisbon Portugal Castle of Capdepera Mallorca Spain Carcassonne FranceSee also EditDefensive walls MachicolationReferences Edit Friar Stephen 2003 The Sutton Companion to Castles Sutton Publishing Stroud 2003 p 202 ISBN 978 0 7509 3994 2 J E Kaufmann H W Kaufmann Robert M Jurga 2004 The medieval fortress castles forts and walled cities of the Middle Ages Da Capo Press p 307 ISBN 978 0 306 81358 0 Ward Bucher 1996 Dictionary of building preservation Wiley Interscience pp 43 126 and 165 ISBN 978 0 471 14413 7 Balestracci Duccio 1989 I materiali da costruzione nel castello medievale Archeologia Medievale XVI 227 242 doi 10 1400 244020 Luisi R 1996 Scudi di pietra I castelli e l arte della guerra tra Medioevo e Rinascimento Bari ISBN 88 420 5083 0 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merlons Look up merlon in Wiktionary the free dictionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merlon amp oldid 1132987815, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
