Which siege weapons did Roman engineers use against enemy fortifications?

Roman military engineers were highly skilled in poliorcetics, the art of conducting sieges, and utilized a variety of sophisticated weapons to breach enemy fortifications.

Siege Towers and Rams

The Romans constructed massive siege towers, some reaching heights of 150 feet. These structures served multiple tactical purposes:
* Battering Rams: Housed in the lower stories, these were used to strike walls with either pointed or blunt heads.1
* Archery Platforms: Archers positioned in the upper stories provided covering fire to clear defenders from the ramparts.1
* Assault Bridges: Hinged bridges could be lowered from the top to allow storming parties to cross directly onto the enemy walls.1

Mechanical Artillery

Roman forces employed torsion-based mechanical artillery, which relied on energy stored in bundles of twisted fiber to launch projectiles. Key engines included:2
* Ballistae: Large torsion engines featuring two horizontally opposed arms that rotated in a horizontal plane.2
* Onagers: Single-arm torsion engines that rotated in a vertical plane; they were named for the way their rear would kick upward during recoil.2
* Carroballistae: Smaller, wheel-mounted torsion engines that were standard equipment for Roman legions.2