06-27-2007, 11:25 PM
As to what these small machines could do... recall that the trajectory would be relatively flat, the projectile invisible 'til it struck... no defence...catapult = kata peltes lit. 'shield piercer'. Not to mention the whirring sound...
And everybody has seen the photo of that poor ancient Briton defending 'Mai Dun' in Dorset with the bolt head embedded in, and almost severing his spine ?
The psychological impact of the use of these weapons would be all out of proportion to their physical effects. ----which reminds me, I think I recall a siege described (in North Italy, perhaps? ) where a Goth (?) was impaled to a tree, and the besiegers fled.......can't recall the incident or source in detail. Anyone recall it, or similar incidents ?
And everybody has seen the photo of that poor ancient Briton defending 'Mai Dun' in Dorset with the bolt head embedded in, and almost severing his spine ?
The psychological impact of the use of these weapons would be all out of proportion to their physical effects. ----which reminds me, I think I recall a siege described (in North Italy, perhaps? ) where a Goth (?) was impaled to a tree, and the besiegers fled.......can't recall the incident or source in detail. Anyone recall it, or similar incidents ?
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
