An orillon, also known as an orillion, is an architectural element of a military fortification. The ear-shaped projection of masonry provided defense for guns and soldiers at the flank of a bastion. However, an orillon could also shield a city gate.
An orillon (link below), sometimes referred to as an orillion, is an architectural element of a fortification. It is an ear-shaped masonry projection from the end of the face of a bastion. The curve of an orillon is convex and it may be semi-circular or squared-off in shape. It provides defense for guns and soldiers on the flank, and may cover a retired flank. The French orillon (English: little ear) is a diminutive which derives from the French oreille (English: ear).[1][2][3][4]
An orillon was generally built at the flank of a bastion, close to the adjacent defensive wall. The position permitted the cannons to be set back into the bastion. The projecting masonry shielded the gun and soldiers. Additional protection was sometimes provided by lowering the gun platform in the bastion (link below). An orillon could also shield a city gate. An example is the Prince Edward's Gate(pictured in map at right) in the Charles V Wall in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar.[4][5][6]
Examples of bastions that have orillons include the Flat Bastion (Spanish: Baluarte de Santiago) and the South Bastion (Spanish: Baluarte de Nuestra Señora del Rosario) in Gibraltar. The two bastions along the Charles V Wall each have an orillon and a retired flank on their opposing faces, the west wall for the Flat Bastion and the east wall for the South Bastion (pictured at right). Usually, however, orillons were built on both flanks of a bastion.[4][5][7]
^"orillion". useful_english.enacademic.com. Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
^"orillon". useful_english.enacademic.com. Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
^ abc"Bastions With 'Ears'". syler.com. Siege Warfare 1494-1648, Barry L. Siler. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
^ abClive Finlayson, Darren Fa (31 October 2006). The Fortifications of Gibraltar 1068-1945. Osprey Publishing. p. 56. ISBN9781846030161. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
^Clive Finlayson, Darren Fa (31 October 2006). The Fortifications of Gibraltar 1068-1945 (illustrated ed.). Osprey Publishing. p. 19. ISBN9781846030161. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
External linksedit
Photo and diagram of orillons
January 01, 1970
orillon, orillon, also, known, orillion, architectural, element, military, fortification, shaped, projection, masonry, provided, defense, guns, soldiers, flank, bastion, however, orillon, could, also, shield, city, gate, lower, edge, 1908, flat, bastion, gibra. An orillon also known as an orillion is an architectural element of a military fortification The ear shaped projection of masonry provided defense for guns and soldiers at the flank of a bastion However an orillon could also shield a city gate At the lower edge of the 1908 OS map of the Flat Bastion in Gibraltar is an orillon covering a retired flank and the Prince Edward s Gate in the Charles V Wall The Flat Bastion upper and South Bastion lower on the Charles V Wall Each has an orillon and a retired flank Description editAn orillon link below sometimes referred to as an orillion is an architectural element of a fortification It is an ear shaped masonry projection from the end of the face of a bastion The curve of an orillon is convex and it may be semi circular or squared off in shape It provides defense for guns and soldiers on the flank and may cover a retired flank The French orillon English little ear is a diminutive which derives from the French oreille English ear 1 2 3 4 An orillon was generally built at the flank of a bastion close to the adjacent defensive wall The position permitted the cannons to be set back into the bastion The projecting masonry shielded the gun and soldiers Additional protection was sometimes provided by lowering the gun platform in the bastion link below An orillon could also shield a city gate An example is the Prince Edward s Gate pictured in map at right in the Charles V Wall in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar 4 5 6 Examples of bastions that have orillons include the Flat Bastion Spanish Baluarte de Santiago and the South Bastion Spanish Baluarte de Nuestra Senora del Rosario in Gibraltar The two bastions along the Charles V Wall each have an orillon and a retired flank on their opposing faces the west wall for the Flat Bastion and the east wall for the South Bastion pictured at right Usually however orillons were built on both flanks of a bastion 4 5 7 References edit Engineering Dictionary Orillion Orillon oginatec com Oginatec Retrieved 29 September 2012 orillion useful english enacademic com Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias Retrieved 29 September 2012 orillon useful english enacademic com Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias Retrieved 29 September 2012 a b c Bastions With Ears syler com Siege Warfare 1494 1648 Barry L Siler Retrieved 29 September 2012 a b Clive Finlayson Darren Fa 31 October 2006 The Fortifications of Gibraltar 1068 1945 Osprey Publishing p 56 ISBN 9781846030161 Retrieved 2 October 2012 List of Crown Dependencies amp Overseas Territories fco gov uk Foreign and Commonwealth Office Retrieved 2 October 2012 Clive Finlayson Darren Fa 31 October 2006 The Fortifications of Gibraltar 1068 1945 illustrated ed Osprey Publishing p 19 ISBN 9781846030161 Retrieved 2 October 2012 External links editPhoto and diagram of orillons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Orillon amp oldid 1057705808, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
