Anorillon, also known as anorillion, is anarchitectural element of a militaryfortification. The ear-shaped projection ofmasonry provided defense for guns and soldiers at the flank of abastion. However, an orillon could also shield acity gate.
An orillon(link below), sometimes referred to as an orillion, is an architectural element of a fortification. It is an ear-shaped masonry projection from the end of the face of a bastion. The curve of an orillon is convex and it may be semi-circular or squared-off in shape. It provides defense for guns and soldiers on the flank, and may cover aretired flank. The Frenchorillon (English:little ear) is a diminutive which derives from the Frenchoreille (English:ear).[1][2][3][4]
An orillon was generally built at the flank of a bastion, close to the adjacentdefensive wall. The position permitted the cannons to be set back into the bastion. The projecting masonry shielded the gun and soldiers. Additional protection was sometimes provided by lowering the gun platform in the bastion(link below). An orillon could also shield a city gate. An example is thePrince Edward's Gate(pictured in map at right) in theCharles V Wall in theBritish Overseas Territory ofGibraltar.[4][5][6]
Examples of bastions that have orillons include theFlat Bastion (Spanish:Baluarte de Santiago) and theSouth Bastion (Spanish:Baluarte de Nuestra Señora del Rosario) in Gibraltar. The two bastions along the Charles V Wall each have an orillon and a retired flank on their opposing faces, the west wall for the Flat Bastion and the east wall for the South Bastion(pictured at right). Usually, however, orillons were built on both flanks of a bastion.[4][5][7]
