Ancient Roman (adapted from Greek)

The Roman Ballista

400 BCE – 400 CE

The Roman ballista was a torsion-powered artillery weapon that could fire iron bolts or stone balls up to 500 metres with sniper-like accuracy. Julius Caesar used ballistae to provide covering fire during river crossings. The torsion mechanism — twisted bundles of sinew or hair — stored more energy per kilogram than any other pre-gunpowder propulsion system. The ballista's accuracy was so legendary that Roman soldiers nicknamed it the 'scorpion.'