Around 100 AD, the Romans utilized onagers and catapults as mobile siege artillery during military campaigns. These stone-throwing devices, resembling mule-like catapults, provided significant advantages in warfare by allowing for the bombardment of fortifications from a distance. The deployment of such technology marked a crucial evolution in Roman military tactics and engineering.

Roman onagers and catapults in sieges were documented by writers like Vegetius, informing poetic traditions that celebrated disciplined engineering in imperial conquests. Poets such as Horace and Virgil incorporated military themes into their works, reflecting the grandeur of Rome.