Leonardo da Vinci designed a scythed chariot, a war vehicle fitted with blades for close combat.
The concept used rotating or projecting blades to make a mounted vehicle dangerous to troops nearby. Leonardo’s drawing belongs to his military-engineering studies, in which he explored ways to improve mobility, reach, and psychological impact on the battlefield.
Scythed chariots were not a uniquely Renaissance idea. Ancient armies, especially in the ancient Near East and the Persian world, are associated with chariots carrying blades on their wheels or axles. Leonardo’s design revisited that broader military tradition with Renaissance mechanical thinking.
The drawing should not be confused with Leonardo’s armored vehicle, often called a tank. The armored vehicle was intended to protect soldiers and carry guns, whereas the scythed chariot relied on blades and rapid movement as its main threat.