gastraphetes Q's

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Deleted member 14881

Was the Gastraphetes used like a medieval crossbow ,or as a siege device like the ballista?
 
Was the Gastraphetes used like a medieval crossbow ,or as a siege device like the ballista?

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.
 
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