Plate 47:  Constructing the Black Castle, Part 13: how tall is a merlon?
(This plate added MAR 2004)

The accompanying photo shows a soldier standing upon the wall-walk. Standing thus, the soldier is exposed to the missiles of attackers. Therefore, we must determine exactly how to provide protection for the castle's defenders. The soldier in the photo is member of the Life Guards. --more--

The part of a battlement that offers protection to the castle's defenders (such as the soldier seen in the photo) is called a merlon. A merlon is a permanent shield made of stone. A merlon must be tall enough and wide enough to protect defenders upon the wall-walk from attacker's missiles (such as arrows or catapulted stones). "Why are these stone shields called merlons?"  the Advisory Aesthetician asked the Artisan. "Because", replied the Artisan, "from a distance, a row of such shields standing along the top of a castle wall looked like a row of blackbirds. Merle is an old French word for blackbird, from the Latin merula. The scientific name for the blackbird of Europe is Turdus merula, not to be confused with the red-winged blackbird of North America, the scientific name of which is Agelaius phoeniceus." "Very interesting, indeed,"  said the Advisory Aesthetician. Go to top of page