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Mention of lead bullets and lead in ancient Athens, naval stores (Read 124 times)
Thearos
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Mention of lead bullets and lead in ancient Athens, naval stores
Jul 19th, 2023 at 4:06am
 
There is an inventory of naval stores from 330 BCE, Athens
https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/3849?hs=11015-11029

Line 321, among the various armaments in the arsenals, it mentions

"Of lead bullets (molubdides) and lead in the wicker chest, weight 6 talents and 3 mnas"

That's 156 kg in store, so enough to cast maybe 5200 bullets. Nothing to sneeze at, though probably short of the quantities you'd need to equip a large contingent of slingers.
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TOMBELAINE
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Re: Mention of lead bullets and lead in ancient Athens, naval stores
Reply #1 - Jul 19th, 2023 at 9:00am
 
5200 balls of 30 grams.
But the text doesn't specify whether it is to equip specialized slingers or if it is small gun fire during naval battles. In the second case, it could be part of the arming of a warship.
Last possibility is the stock status during the inventory.
Thearos, your text is interesting. Because it is a big question. Just my idea.
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Thearos
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Re: Mention of lead bullets and lead in ancient Athens, naval stores
Reply #2 - Jul 19th, 2023 at 3:46pm
 
Yes you're right, it could be for a catapult on a ship. Also ancient ships could use lead as anti-ramming devices (weights on yardarms to drop on enemy ships).

Thanks Tombelaine !
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