Making a Roman Ballista Model
Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: Regional History or Period History
Forum Name: Ancient Mediterranean and Europe
Forum Discription: Greece, Macedon, Rome and other cultures such as Celtic and Germanic tribes
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2772
Printed Date: 20-Apr-2024 at 01:55
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.56a - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Making a Roman Ballista Model
Posted By: Liang Jieming
Subject: Making a Roman Ballista Model
Date Posted: 30-Mar-2005 at 06:15
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I can't find good info on the trigger mechanism for the ballista. From
what I understand, the Chelonium or slider is fired forward by lifting
the whole chelonium off the ratchets, allowing the bow to spring
forward. How is this Chelonium raised? I've managed to work out the rest of the mechanism and have sketched out the major components. Also got all the wood pieces ready to start cutting now. Only this trigger stumps me. Any help? Jieming http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DragonSeedLegacy - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DragonSeedLegacy |
Replies:
Posted By: Liang Jieming
Date Posted: 02-Apr-2005 at 13:31
Ok, here's how my ballista is looking as of 2:27am 3rd April 2005 (+8 GMT) I have yet to figure out how to make the winch/trigger for the ballista. Jieming http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DragonSeedLegacy - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DragonSeedLegacy |
Posted By: Liang Jieming
Date Posted: 06-Apr-2005 at 22:54
It's done. Jieming http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DragonSeedLegacy |
Posted By: Imperator Invictus
Date Posted: 07-Apr-2005 at 15:10
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That's pretty good. Looks better than the one I made a few years back.
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Posted By: Cyrus Shahmiri
Date Posted: 07-Apr-2005 at 15:31
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What was the maximum range of a Roman ballista? ------------- 
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Posted By: Liang Jieming
Date Posted: 07-Apr-2005 at 23:27
This is it with the bowstring drawn back and the last two diagonal bracings attached. Jieming http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DragonSeedLegacy |
Posted By: Imperator Invictus
Date Posted: 08-Apr-2005 at 14:56
Very nice!
The average sized ballista (more accurately called as catapulta) could probably shoot about half a km. But it really depends on how big you build it, and how big/strong the bundle of ropes are.  Is a bigger variant  Is a smaller version Smaller versions of the catapulta were also called "scorpions". The big type threw either stones or arrows. By the late empire, the catapultas that threw arrows became designated as "ballista" BTW, I just noticed that at this site where the pics come from, there's a close up of the trigger, but I guess you've already made it. http://www.legionxxiv.org/ballistacatapulta/ - http://www.legionxxiv.org/ballistacatapulta/ ------------- |
Posted By: Liang Jieming
Date Posted: 09-Apr-2005 at 13:55
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Thanks! I sure had fun making it. The picture of the large Ballista, isn't that Kurt Suleski's ballista? He's been really helpful giving me pointers when I was building mine.  Jieming http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DragonSeedLegacy |
Posted By: snowybeagle
Date Posted: 12-Apr-2005 at 23:07
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Hmmm, would you have recommended ballistas to be mounted on tripods? |