04-19-2006, 06:49 AM
AFAIK. bows used by the Greeks since the Dark Age were composite and of double curvature.
Heron just says that the gastraphetes uses a bow so powerful that it cannot be tended by man's hand. The surviving copies of the ancient diagrams consistently show double curvature bows, which can only be composite.
As Bernard has duly pointed out, composite bows for heavy catapults were unwieldy, took a long time to be made and were very vulnerable to damp environments. Probably, there were also limits ito the size which ancient bow-makers could reach.
Machines using torsion springs (I wouldn't call them 'bows' :wink: ) solved all those problems and were probably more efficient than their non-torsion equivalents.
Aitor
Heron just says that the gastraphetes uses a bow so powerful that it cannot be tended by man's hand. The surviving copies of the ancient diagrams consistently show double curvature bows, which can only be composite.
As Bernard has duly pointed out, composite bows for heavy catapults were unwieldy, took a long time to be made and were very vulnerable to damp environments. Probably, there were also limits ito the size which ancient bow-makers could reach.
Machines using torsion springs (I wouldn't call them 'bows' :wink: ) solved all those problems and were probably more efficient than their non-torsion equivalents.
Aitor
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.
Rolf Steiner
Rolf Steiner
