Catapulta

A catapulta was a Roman machine for throwing arrows and javelins, 12 feet (3.7 m) or 15 feet (4.6 m) long, at the enemy. The name comes from the Greek (katapeltes, καταπέλτης), because it could pierce or 'go through' (kata) a shield (pelta). The design was probably inherited, along with the ballista, from Greek armies.

References

Sources

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728). "^{article name needed}". Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (first ed.). James and John Knapton, et al.

Greek and Roman artillery

External links

Legion XXIV Catapulta, Features a detailed working reconstruction of a three-man catapulta.

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Ancient mechanical artillery and hand-held missile weapons
Generic phrases	Greek and Roman artillery Ballista Catapult Torsion siege engine
Crew-served arrow-shooters	Carroballista Catapulta Oxybeles Polybolos Scorpio
Crew-served stone-projectors	Lithobolos Onager Trebuchet
Hand-held weapons	Bow Cheiroballistra Crossbow Gastraphetes Javelin Kestros Mesangylon Repeating crossbow Sling Spear thrower