Description
A ballista could be aimed effectively, but that accuracy came at a cost in range; it could fire no more than a distance of around 500 metres. Using a pair of torsion springs with levers inserted into twisted ropes made from animal sinew, the ballista was incredibly powerful for a machine of its size. Generally firing solid shot or bolts, it could also be modified to throw clay pots filled with snakes or scorpions. Equally effective against infantry or cavalry, it could also be deployed to destroy light fortifications during sieges. Originally developed by the Greeks around 400BC, and based on the oversized Oxybeles composite bow, ballistae were widely used by many cultures of the period, including the Romans. Later Roman versions included adjustable caps that enabled crews to quickly alter the tension of each sinew bundle to provide balance and therefore improve accuracy.
