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Seeking Roman Ballista Information (Read 6142 times)
Kjev
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Seeking Roman Ballista Information
Dec 1st, 2009 at 8:25am
 
Last night I visited my cousin, and he showed me a small ballista he and a friend had built. I'll take a few pictures to post as soon as it's light out.

They want to build a larger model, with the goal of being able to throw a 4-7 foot dart accurately for a distance of 100 yards. Since I can range that with my atlatl, I think it's a pretty modest goal. Does anyone here know of any links to a good ballista site?

K'Jev
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David Morningstar
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Re: Seeking Roman Ballista Information
Reply #1 - Dec 1st, 2009 at 9:23am
 
This is more about trebuchets but the onager is basically half a ballista. There is a lot of info here about the twisted skeins used in both devices.

http://www.thehurl.org/tiki-view_articles.php

http://thehurl.wikidot.com/

The main problem people seem to encounter with ballistae is the shock of the arms hitting their stops at the end of the throw.

A six foot javelin that is rigid enough to withstand the acceleration of a 100 yard ballista shot is going to be quite heavy, about 3/4 inch minimum diameter. Its going to need a powerful machine to throw it. Look at the artillery clip on this page:

http://www.caerleon.net/history/army/page2.html

[EDIT]

A couple of other good ones:

http://www.comitatus.net/armyballista.html

http://www.roman-empire.net/army/ballista-pics.html

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Thearos
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Re: Seeking Roman Ballista Information
Reply #2 - Dec 1st, 2009 at 11:05am
 
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Thearos
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Re: Seeking Roman Ballista Information
Reply #3 - Dec 1st, 2009 at 12:00pm
 
And, for those who like books, A. Wilkins, Roman Artillery,  a small but punchy book in the Shire series. Older, and perhaps on Google books, is Marsden's book on Greek and Roman artillery
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Kjev
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Re: Seeking Roman Ballista Information
Reply #4 - Dec 2nd, 2009 at 6:48am
 
Thanks, everyone. I'll try to get his pictures posted tonight.

It's actually making me want to try my own (adding it to a very long list!)

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Kjev
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Re: Seeking Roman Ballista Information
Reply #5 - Dec 7th, 2009 at 10:17pm
 
Pictures!

It isn't very large. The dart is a piece of PVC pipe that they notched on one end for the string to hook in to (I did explain that on my crossbow bolts, they are not notched, and I think the same would hold true for a ballista as well.) The frame is pine, the bow is PVC with a bungee cord string.

At any rate:
...
Left Side

...
Front

...
Rear

...
The Bolt

K'Jev
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HurlinThom
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Re: Seeking Roman Ballista Information
Reply #6 - Dec 13th, 2009 at 3:37pm
 
http://www.stormthewalls.kicks-ass.net/Siege/ConstructionPics.htm

The best sites for ballistas are associated with Kurt Saleski, aka Darivs Architectvs, the above being one.

BTW, the Romans didn't use a bow-type ballista. The adopted the ballista from the Greeks as mature technology and the bow had been replaced by skeins of rope in tension by then.
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Kjev
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Re: Seeking Roman Ballista Information
Reply #7 - Dec 14th, 2009 at 6:53am
 
Thanks all! These are some great links!

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ChuckRocks
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Re: Seeking Roman Ballista Information
Reply #8 - Dec 26th, 2009 at 6:59am
 
Ballistae can be fun but self-distruct too fast for me.
So, what you going to do?

Try building an in-swinger, AKA Tea Trolley.
Better out-put for equal torsion. Or Equal out-put for less torsion.

ChuckRocks
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