"An ancient or medieval riddle just for fun" Topic

I recently came across this ancient, or perhaps medieval riddle. Thought it might be fun.
And yes, the answer is something that can be found on a wargames table, not something intangible like "time" or the "wind."
I am the defender of my people
Strengthened with wire and filled with gifts
During the day I spit them forth
The fuller I am the better I am
I swallow dark weapons of war
Bitter arrows and poisonous spears
I have a good stomach
Men seldom forget what passes through my mouth

VICTORY!!!
No, wait, that's not it.

Cannon?

Sounds like a ballista to me.

Is it a gate?

Walled city?

Perhaps a shield?

A river

Skrapwelder for the win.

Not you have to tell us what gave it away.

Arrows and spears.

Did they even have wire in ancient times?

Oh wait.

Mail?

What's the source of the riddle? It sounds quite Anglo-Saxon, but I didn't think they would get the references.

I was thinking quiver.

I came across it while reading "The Barbarians" by Tim Newark

Did they even have wire in ancient times?

Yes. Extruding wire is a very old process— though I'm trying to think what wire goes into a ballista and I'm unaware of any. Rope, yes. Wire, as we think of it, no. Perhaps the "wire" is an unclear translation, and is meant to refer to the braided cords that form the torsion system and/or the bowstring?

But the "wire" threw me as well.

Sounds like a quiver. The wire may have been used to assemble it.

Wire probably refers to the twisted cords used to make the torsion bands. One of the roots for wire is Swedish word meaning to twist.