Matolay
Tiro
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Lyngby, Denmark
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Hi there, slingers, regarding slingshots and precision skills in a historical perspective.
Roman and other ancient armies were usually loaded with skirmishers using slingshots. According to Livius 'History of the Roman Empire', islanders usually made up these units, imported mainly from the Balearic islands and Crete. These people must have made quite a name as slingers. Often slingshot units are simply referred to as 'Balearis' or 'Cretes' and usually both opposing armies deployed them. At least twice the description of these forces becomes very vivid, entertaining and informative regarding slingshots.
First in vol. 28:[37], in the description of Mago's refuge from Gades, (today's Cadiz) Carthage's last stronghold in Spain, during which he fled with his fleet to the Balearics, namely to the smaller island of Pitysa, which about that time said to have had a Punic population. Here Livius remarks the Balearic islanders to be by far the best among all of the then known people in the art of slinging stones, which they were mastering to near perfection. Upon the attempt to enter the harbor of the larger of the Balearic islands (Mallorca), Magos fleet were met by such a dense hail-like storm of stones delivered by slingshots that they had to leave in a hurry.
This certainly demands respect, but then later on it gets even better. In vol. 38:[29], shortly after the defeat of Antioch, during the siege of Same, Cephallania (today's Turkey) where consul M. Fulvius deployed 100 slingshots from Aegium, Patrae and Dyme. There you get a very accurate description of the vicious power of this weapon in the hands of a skilled slinger.
As Livius says, these people used to practice slinging by tradition from very early ages using the round stones found on their beaches in abundance, hurling these far out the sea. Thus, they were able to sling heavier stones further and with greater accuracy than any Balearic people was able to. Their slingshots probably had 3 cords, because Livius furthermore says that - 'Their slingshot didn't have just one (2) ordinary cord as the Balearic slingshots and those used by other people but were made out of three layers hardened by lots of sewing so they didn't bend; the projectile too remained steady during slinging and flew off like it had been shot out from a bow. These slingers were used to practice aiming at small wooden rings and could not only deliver precise shots towards an enemy head but even the part of the face they were aiming at.'
Needless to say that broke Same's resistance and they gave up the town.
Best regards Gabor Matolay
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