05-15-2011, 07:11 PM
In the Appian's History of Rome: The Illyrian Wars I noticed, that in the attack on the town of Delminium by consul Marcius Figulus in 156 BC, the author is speaking of a self-ignition bolts:
Then, returning to Delminium, he hurled sticks of wood, two cubits long, covered with flax and smeared with pitch and sulfur, from catapults into the town. These caught fire from friction and, flying in the air like torches, wherever they fell caused a conflagration, so that the greater part of the town was burned. This was the end of the war waged by Figulus against the Dalmatians.
(the whole text on the internet http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/appian/appi...ian_3.html)
It is possible to catch fire just from friction?
Is there some other source that is mentioning the same thing?
Then, returning to Delminium, he hurled sticks of wood, two cubits long, covered with flax and smeared with pitch and sulfur, from catapults into the town. These caught fire from friction and, flying in the air like torches, wherever they fell caused a conflagration, so that the greater part of the town was burned. This was the end of the war waged by Figulus against the Dalmatians.
(the whole text on the internet http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/appian/appi...ian_3.html)
It is possible to catch fire just from friction?
Is there some other source that is mentioning the same thing?
Regards,
Miha Franca
"Balnea, vina, Venus corrumpunt corpora nostra; sed vitam faciunt balnea, vina, Venus."
Tiberius Claudius Secundus
www.vespesjan.eu
Miha Franca
"Balnea, vina, Venus corrumpunt corpora nostra; sed vitam faciunt balnea, vina, Venus."
Tiberius Claudius Secundus
www.vespesjan.eu
