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Chapter LI
Catapult History
Introductory Notes on the Siege
Engines Used in Ancient
and Medieval
Times for Discharging Great Stones and Arrows
In connection with the history of the crossbow
- or as some old writers term it, the manubalista - it will be of interest
to describe among other engines the balista, the original weapon from which
the crossbow is said to have been adapted.
The ancient balista resembled the crossbow in its general construction,
though the former - which was employed for propelling huge darts against
the defenders or besiegers of a fortified castle or town - was of immensely
greater size.1
Fig. 178. - The Trebuchet
or Sling
Engine.
Criticism. - As the Arm has been brought into an upright
position by its counterpoises, the stone should have been projected from
the sling. See fig. 212, p. 310.
The three projectile engines used in ancient and medieval
sieges, were the Balista, the Catapult
and the Trebuchet. The first
named discharged great arrows and the other two cast pieces of rock and
heavy balls of stone.
The balista and the catapult
date from time immemorial but the trebuchet was an early mediaeval invention.
All three engines were employed for many years after the first appearance
of cannon in warfare.
The catapult
was sometimes known as Onager.
It was also called a Mangonel.
The word 'scorpion' refers I consider to the balista. In his history of
the catapult Procopius tells us that the catapult was termed 'onager' or
'wild ass' because it was likened to this animal, which when harried by
dogs kept them off by scattering stones with its hind feet.
1 The balista had not, however, a bow in one
piece like a crossbow. It had two arms joined by a bowstring, each arm
working independently between twisted cords. See Chapter LVII.
The Crossbow
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