Battlemented for Dummies

Alright, so "battlemented" is a word that's often used to describe a specific type of architectural design, particularly on castles, fortresses, and other medieval buildings. When a building is battlemented, it means it has a series of raised sections (called "battlements") along the top edge of a wall or tower, with gaps between them that are often square or rectangular in shape. These gaps are called "crenels." The presence of battlements served a practical purpose in medieval times; they provided protection for the people inside the building, allowing them to shoot arrows or throw objects at attackers while still being shielded from return fire.

Think of it like a fence with little square cutouts at the top that allow you to peek through and see what's on the other side, but without exposing yourself to danger. If you've ever played with LEGO bricks, you might picture the battlemented walls as being like a row of LEGO pieces with alternating solid and open sections, creating a pattern of high and low points along the top of the wall.

But beyond the practical aspects, the battlements also have a kind of iconic, classic look that immediately calls to mind images of medieval times. When you see a building with battlemented walls, you can't help but think of knights, castles, and epic battles – it's like taking a step back in time. So, in a nutshell, "battlemented" means a building has those distinct raised sections and gaps along the top of its walls, which have a dual purpose of defense and a timeless, medieval aesthetic. Cool, right?