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General >> Project Goliath - The History of The Sling >> Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum
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Message started by Shale on May 25th, 2018 at 9:16pm

Title: Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum
Post by Shale on May 25th, 2018 at 9:16pm
I plan to make some clay glandes that (roughly) approximate those used in the Greek and Roman period. I have attached information about the relevant clay glandes in the British Museum. The spreadsheet excludes those glandes that are not part of Greek/Roman world, that are significantly damaged or that do not include information about weight.

The average length of the glandes is 48.8 mm and the average weight is 43.9 grams. I was really surprised by how light they typically are. It just doesn't seem that such projectiles would do much damage.
https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?action=downloadfile;file=Clay_Glandes_in_British_Museum.xls (10 KB | 156 )

Title: Re: Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum
Post by NooneOfConsequence on May 26th, 2018 at 8:24am
Thanks!  That’s a great reference Shale.
I wonder if the size wasn’t driven by other practicalities rather than being purely based on optimal battle damage. You can make and launch twice as many 50g glandes as 100g ones, and the mould is smaller and more portable. If the intent was to keep an enemy horde at bay, large volumes of moderately effective projectiles are better than fewer ones that are more effective but have fewer chances to strike a blow.

Title: Re: Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum
Post by Bill Skinner on May 26th, 2018 at 9:49am
Remember, the slinger has to carry his ammo.  He can carry a lot more lighter ammo, particularly clay because the lighter ammo is a lot smaller.

Title: Re: Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum
Post by kicktheotter on May 26th, 2018 at 12:36pm
Better to have lots of small shots than to run out halfway through the battle because you couldn't carry more than 10.

Title: Re: Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum
Post by Morphy on May 26th, 2018 at 5:19pm
That is very strange to me. For lead it would make sense but clay is already so light. Do we know for sure what they were used for?

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