Technical devices put on the backs of ancient war elephants

The paper contains the author’s theoretical considerations on the function, design and characteristics of the so called ‘towers’ placed on the backs of war elephants during the Hellenic and Roman time. Based on the fragments of a terracotta relief found at New Nisa, the author attempts to form a clear view on one of such devices. The author believes that the use of the term ‘towers’ to describe these devices leads to misconceptions about their design and size. In his view, it is better to use more neutral terms such as a box, a cabin that avoid straightforward and incorrect associations.