A balistraria (often referred to more as an arrow slit or arrow loop) is a thin vertical aperture in a fortification through which an archer can launch arrows largely free from personal danger.
The interior walls behind an arrow slit are often cut away at an oblique angle so that the archer has a wide field of view and field of fire. Arrow slits come in a remarkable variety. A common and recognizable form is the cross. The thin vertical aperture permits the archer large degrees of freedom to vary the elevation and direction of his bowshot but makes it difficult for attackers to harm the archer since there is only a small target to aim at.
Balistraria can often be found in the walls of medieval battlements beneath the crenellations.
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Last updated on Wednesday July 23, 2008 at 11:01:53 PDT (GMT -0700)
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