[blam]

GGG Ping.

[SoCal Pubbie]

The belly bow was basically a cross bow braced by the user's torso. The catapult was also called the mangonel or onager. The really heavy artillery was the trebuchet, which could toss stones up to 400 pounds!

[FairOpinion]

"Until the discovery of gunpowder, the catapult was the most powerful weapon in existence, said historian Serafina Cuomo. The machines, capable of hurling large projectiles long distances, were in high demand during the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans - and so were their makers.

But the construction of catapults was no easy task, requiring great mathematical and engineering skill.

It became a science in itself, known as "belopoietics" from the Greek "poietike" meaning "making of" and "belos" meaning "projectile" or "projectile throwing device".

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[BenLurkin]

"WarWolf" bump

[RightWhale]

Marin Mersenne introduced the science of physics to the world by describing the ballistics of gunpowder cannon shortly after the invention of cannon replaced catapults. While the renaissance had already begun, he hastened the advance of science by acting as liaison between the isolated scientists--including Galileo--of the various kingdoms of Europe. He was one of the central figures of the renaissance, and this due to the catapult. Moveable type, the magnetic compass, and gunpowder--the most important inventions according to Thomas More--made scientists necessary, and it was religious figures such as More and Mersenne that led the way to acceptance of science.

[Happygal]

Until the discovery of gunpowder, the catapult was the most powerful weapon in existence

All those buxom wenches, with their decolletage on public display, may beg to differ! *L*

[Larry Lucido]

I'm pretty sure al gore invented the catapault. In fact, he invented one so powerful it could have thrown michael moore 300 meters. Unfortunately, john kerry voted it down (after he voted for it).

[Straight Vermonter]

For the true catapult/trebuchet geek.

You're not living until you start launching stuff in the back yard. I recommend barrels of flaming fuel oil. LOL!

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Ancient Fire Support ping

[VOA]

She added: "Ancient engineers had a role in society and often an ambivalent relationship
with political power. The technology they boasted of may now be obsolete, but
their anxieties, their curiosity, and their pride in their knowledge are not - perhaps the people behind the machine have not changed
that much."

Nice post-modern journalism.
As I started the article, all I could think was "at least these technologists
didn't have a Nobel Peace Prize there to lure them into being useful idiots.".

But I guess the writer thinks otherwise.

[LibWhacker]

Good post. Catapult making is a lost art, isn't it? I saw something on the Discovery Channel not too long ago where modern engineers were trying to duplicate the throwing power of Roman catapults. They didn't even come close.

BTW, this is a bit offtopic, but I've been waiting for a chance to post this picture and although it's only peripherally related, this is probably the best chance I'll ever get! Longbows were so powerful they were tricky to string. Here's how they did it.

[SunkenCiv]

Just updating the GGG information, not sending a general distribution.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

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[Professional Engineer]

ping

[Professional Engineer]

http://www.trebuchet.com/

[sionnsar]

of firing projectiles against enemies and their cities, "from oversized arrows to Patriot missiles".

?? I thought the Patriots were defensive...

[Little Ray]

The guy in charge of the royal artillery train was also a "superstar." His jobs included casting cannon, mixing and testing gunpowder and making fireworks... If he was any good, he could always get a job - though his employer might kill or imprison him rather than lose him to a rival!