Re: SPELLJAMMER-L Digest - 4 Mar 2003 to 5 Mar 2003 (#2003-45)

>There is one message totalling 18 lines in this issue.
>
>Topics of the day:
>
>   1. Roman Catapults to be seen on TV
>
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>Date:    Wed, 5 Mar 2003 07:21:17 -0800
>From:    Thatotherguy <spellj@??????????.com>
>Subject: Roman Catapults to be seen on TV
>
>On the 11th (next Tuesday) there will be a show where a real Roman
>Catapult is made.  Looked more like a ballista to me be, but who really
>cares?  Anyway, I think it's on Discovery network (either Discovery or
>History Channel).

Therein lies the problenm with ancient artillery... nomenclature is
never straight:) The Greeks and romans both used devices we would
call 'ballista' to throw stones, in fact, they were more like two
catapults working in tandem, since the arms were driven by torsion,
whereas the more typical ballista is basically just a huge composite
bow fixed to a frame. One name the greeks used for their throwers
like this was 'Lithobolos'.
--
"...And nobody is to be killed at all, if it can be helped. Keep your
tempers and hold your hands until the last possible moment!"
"But if there many of these ruffians," said Merry, "it will certainly
mean fighting. You won't rescue Lotho, or the Shire, just by being
shocked and sad, my dear Frodo."

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State University