besieged attempted to paralyse their action by drawing them up from below with cords, iron catches (ancorae ferrae), cranes (tollenones), capstans (tormenta, vii. 22). Later on use was made also of the 'wall-piercer' (terebra). It was a kind of ram, ending in an iron point, to pierce single holes in the ramparts. § 32. Heavy artillery. Generally all the heavy artillery were 'cross-bows' of huge size, supplied with strong elastic cords, made of sinews or hair of animals (even women's hair, Bell. Civ. iii. 9). According to their projectiles they were divided into (1) Engines for hurling arrows, catapultae, kаTATáλται, scorpiones 27 (vii. 25), which threw their projectiles horizontally or at a slight angle. However, as in Greek κатαжάλтаι, so in Latin catapultae often = artillery of all kinds; thus in Caesar we find stones hurled by the catapults (saxa ex catapultis, Bell. Civ. ii. 9). (2) Ballistae, Mooẞóλo, hurling as a rule stones and also beams; they were pointed at an angle under 45°. Artillery was used in the defence of places as well as in attacking them. In the open field they were only used to defend some strong position at some distance from which it was desirable to keep the enemy. In the later days of the Empire they were also used in open field. 27 Scorpio also = 'the arrow.' |