Was the Gastraphetes used like a medieval crossbow ,or as a siege device like the ballista?
Dec 17, 2010 #1 Deleted member 14881 Was the Gastraphetes used like a medieval crossbow ,or as a siege device like the ballista?
Dec 17, 2010 #2 William_Dellinger Crossbow. A larger version called oxybeles were used in siege warfare.
Dec 17, 2010 #3 Lysandros Aikiedes erich von changstein said: Was the Gastraphetes used like a medieval crossbow ,or as a siege device like the ballista? Click to expand... It was one of the earliest handheld crossbows in the Mediterranean. The "belly-releaser" was identified by Heron as the forerunner of the larger Catapult. Oxybeles/Ballistae proved more useful in siege warfare then the smaller Gastraphetes, though.
erich von changstein said: Was the Gastraphetes used like a medieval crossbow ,or as a siege device like the ballista? Click to expand... It was one of the earliest handheld crossbows in the Mediterranean. The "belly-releaser" was identified by Heron as the forerunner of the larger Catapult. Oxybeles/Ballistae proved more useful in siege warfare then the smaller Gastraphetes, though.