Fancy cannon

A photo collection of decoration on 16th and 17th century cannons from a quick look at what might be a military museum but functions more like a storage shed in the Zitadelle, Spandau.

During the Thirty Years War (1618-48; "a bloody maelstrom") the entire town was fortified, and many of these cannon might have been used then.

The ornamentation on the cannon barrels includes dates, coats of arms, mottos...

By the end of the 15th century, several technological advancements made cannons more mobile. Yet "the longer the barrel, the longer the range. Some cannon made during the 16th century had barrels exceeding 10 ft (3.0 m) in length, and could weigh up to 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg)."