Slinging.org Forum - Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum

Welcome, Guest. Please Login

Slinging.org Forum › General › Project Goliath - The History of The Sling › Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum

(Moderators: Masiakasaurus, Chris, Bill Skinner, David Morningstar, Rat Man, Curious Aardvark, Mauro Fiorentini)

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Pages: 1

Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum (Read 1554 times)

Shale

Junior Member

Offline

Posts: 77
Canada
Gender: male

Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum
May 25^th, 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.

Clay_Glandes_in_British_Museum.xls (10 KB | 156 )

Shale

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool. (Proverbs 26.8)

IP Logged

NooneOfConsequence

Slinging.org Moderator

Offline

Posts: 2984
Texas

Re: Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum
Reply #1 - May 26^th, 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.

“My final hour is at hand. We face an enemy more numerous and cunning than the world has yet seen. Remember your training, and do not fear the hordes of Judas. I, without sin, shall cast the first stone. That will be your sign to attack! But you shall not fight this unholy enemy with stones. No! RAZOR GLANDES! Aim for the eyes! May the Lord have mercy, for we shall show none!“ -Jesus the Noodler

IP Logged

Bill Skinner Forum Moderation Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 3292	Re: Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum Reply #2 - May 26^th, 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.
Back to top	IP Logged

Kick past-moderator Offline Posts: 4451 Finland	Re: Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum Reply #3 - May 26^th, 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.
Back to top	You are a great guy Kick but also slightly scary at times. - Morphy "Nothing matters, but it’s perhaps more comfortable to keep calm and not interfere with other people." - H.P. Lovecraft, in a letter to Frank Belknap Long, 7 October, 1923 IP Logged

Morphy Slinging.org Moderator Offline Checkmate Posts: 8102	Re: Length and weight of Greek/Roman clay glandes in British Museum Reply #4 - May 26^th, 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?
Back to top	IP Logged

Pages: 1

Slinging.org Forum › General › Project Goliath - The History of The Sling

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

(Moderators: Masiakasaurus, Chris, Bill Skinner, David Morningstar, Rat Man, Curious Aardvark, Mauro Fiorentini)