Gunpowder or black powder appeared as a novelty of warfare in the 10th century. Simultaneously it became necessary to keep this new invention as safely as possible because of an explosion danger. Even relatively moderate amount of this substance could cause extensive damage to surrounding buildings and take people's lives. In the beginning, towers of cities or castles due to their few meters thickness walls were used to store gunpowder in Europe. As the example could be mentioned The Pulvertornis or The Powder Tower, which was built presumably by Livonian Order in the 13th century in Riga, Latvia, as a part of city's defense wall (see the picture below). Possibly, it was used as a gunpowder storage later. (It is needed to say, the other origin of the tower name exists too. Very likely, it was called so because of the smell of smoke after cannons firing from the tower.) Same design towers were used as gunpowder storages all around Europe in these times. Centuries passed, a growing power of Artillery raised safety requirements and gunpowder or powder magazines of the new design were developed. The excellent example of such construction building is The Polverista in Fort Manoel, Malta (see the picture below). It was built in the 18th century by the French architect, member of the Order of St. John, Charles François de Mondion, which studied under Marshal of France Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, the foremost military engineer of his time. This powder magazine represents sophisticated building with reinforced walls and roof, the ventilation system, blast walls and the special construction floor. All was designed to resist fire and water, the most principal enemies of gunpowder. Locations of such buildings also were chosen not by chance, as possible, in safest and farthest parts of the fortifications from a reach of an enemy. Later, in the 19th century with the beginning of the shells usage in Artillery, gunpowder storages became obsolete. However, some of their constructing principles are still used for ammunition storing in our days too. Any design gunpowder storages are worth seeing because of its rarity. Not too many of these buildings have survived due to hazardous conditions which they did not always withstand.