15thc perception on swallowtail merlons?

[MarcoP]

The fortifications of Rhodes have swallow-tail merlons. JKP and Aga discussed them in the past and (if I understand correctly) they both appear to be sceptical. In my opinion, the available evidence suggests that they should be accepted.

The merlons are reproduced in You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. and in You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., so they are not modern fakes.

According to wikipedia, You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. in the engraving was "built between 1396 and 1421"; the nearby wall might have been built at a different date, if so, I believe it is more likely to be earlier than later. I doubt that merlons would have had any defensive use in a military building in the second half of the XV Century, when the use of cannons was widespread.

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. was "built between 1441 and 1442" and shows similar merlons.