Cheiroballista
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The cheiroballista, cheiroballistra or manuballista, which translates in all its forms to 'hand ballista', was a late Roman siege engine. Designed by Heron of Alexandria around 100 A.D. and mostly composed of metal (the spring mechanism and the skeins), it fired smaller bolts than other forms of ballista and the bolts were generally made of metal. It was the next major improvement after the Scorpio.[1]
The name of the weapon implies that portable versions might also have existed, similar to crossbows.
[edit] References
- ^ Warry, J. (1995). Warfare in the Classical World. Pg.178 Salamander Books Ltd., London: United Kingdom. ISBN 0-8061-2794-5
[edit] External links
- Cheiroballistra
- Reconstructing the Cheiroballistra
- Roman artillery
- Reconstructing Ancient Artillery
- Drawing
- Greco Roman Artillery
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