Thearos wrote on Apr 19
th, 2010 at 7:06pm:
Iranian slingers with big stones outrange Cretan archers
Quote:At present the enemy shoot and sling beyond our range, so that our Cretan archers are no match for them.
Well spotted, I hadnt seen that the Persian slingers also outranged Cretan archers. This makes perfect sense, a short wooden selfbow will shoot 150-170 yards, there are several of us here who can outrange that with stones (but not me unfortunately)
Quote:I am told there are in the army some Rhodians, most of whom, they say, know how to sling, and their missile will reach even twice as far as the Persian slings (which, on account of their being loaded with stones as big as one's fist, have a comparatively short range; but the Rhodians are skilled in the use of leaden bullets)
This means the Persian slingers are serious dudes, sending fist sized stones maybe 200 yards, and this also gives us a handle on Rhodian lead bullets, up to 400 yards!