3-057-245 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Firing the earliest known cannon, c1326. One of the figures ignites the weapon through a touch hole at the rear or breech end. A long-headed dart lies ready to be fired. In reality the cannon would have been secured to the frame, not lying unattached as it is shown here. Early cannons were dangerous to their operators as their aim was inaccurate and they could fracture or explode. From Pseudo-Aristotle, Secretum Secretorum, translated by Philip of Tripoli (Philippus Tripolitanus).