Fascinating! I wonder how accurate the portrayal is, ie. could they really stand so close to each other and did they really grip the slings so short with several inches of release cord out past the fist. I assume the coordination, with all of them in exactly the same position, is artistic licence. This engraving shows more detail, pictures often seem to show the sling as if it was only a single cord; such a sling would be impossible to release.

Cute how they included the replica sling next to the slingstones in the last photo. But with commercially made twisted rope for the cords?

I agree, a group of slinger all cracking their slings at once would give a very impressive noice, especially if they fired at a regular pace instead of individually.

I think how close the slingers look is just the art of the time. most artists back then werent the best at showing 3d, and as you said, the smaller details.
Having said that though, I do reckon, depending on your style, slingers could stand reasonably close together. Doing a figure 8 lob throw, I would need much more than a metre either side and perhaps 2m front and back of me. Im sure they would have had more room, but for just basic lobbing slinging (which is what most of warfare probably was), you dont need that much room I dont think.

Nemo

The whole sling is modern.

David Morningstar wrote on Nov 22^nd, 2010 at 5:11am:


Sorry, what?

That is what strikes me - the actually very small sling and that excess trailing cord. Better accuracy (maybe) but limited range and power - heck, just throw it!

Given the size and weight of the ammo. I'm guessing what they have there is staff sling ammo.
Plus the length of the slings depicted is most likely more for artistic licence that realism.

For repetitive barrage slinging with large rocks you'd either use a fairly long sling (so the sling does the work) or use  astaff sling.

The sling in the display case looks like it's been made to the same size as those on the tablet.
So - personally - i'd say not very realistic.

I do like the idea of pistol shot slings though.

That noise followed by the angry bee swarm noise of a sling stone apporaching would put the wind up even the bravest soldier.
And with moulded sling bullets you don't see them coming just hear them (And I do know that from first hand experience

I think the bas relief is attempting to show masses of slingers and using quite a bit of "artistic license" in the depeiction. There's every reason to believe the slinger's were spaced further apart, but the sculptor didn't have the roon to do it. Looking at it from this angle, we need to realize what's being depicted is a mass of slingers working in unison.

They were attacking a fixed location, the city of Lachish.