The ancient Greeks invented catapults.
A catapult is a ballistic device used to launch a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices.
The main types of catapults used were the ballista, mangonel, trebuchet and onager. These types of catapults are shown below.
The Ballista
- Large crossbow
- Designed to work through torsion
- Uses twisted ropes as an energy source to function
- Ammunition included giant arrows or darts made of wood with an iron tip
- Very accurate
- Immobile
The Mangonel
- Designed to throw heavy projectiles from a bowl-shaped bucket at the end of its arm
- Simple to construct
- Used to fire a variety of objects at fortresses, castles, and cites
- Wheels were later added to increase mobility
The Trebuchet
- Most powerful catapult employed in the Middle Ages
- Ammunition included stones, darts, and sharp wooden poles
- Effective ammunition involved fire
- Came in two different designs
- Traction, which were powered by the people
- Counterpoise, where the people were replaced with a weight on the short end
The Onager
- Similar to a mangonel
- Initially launched projectiles from a sling with was later change to a bowl-shaped bucket
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