Here is my understanding of the cestrosphendon based on the descriptions of Livy and Polybius. I've made a rough model of it and it does work. Any ideas?<br>
Johnny<br>
<img src="http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v245/shumate/cestros2.jpg"/> <p></p><i></i>
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Ah, briliant!<br>
<br>
But why the hole in the middle? Is that where to put the dart in?<br>
<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert <p></p><i></i>
The middle hole is for the finger. It is really to large and I need to re-draw it! The hole at the end is for the dart.<br>
Thanks<br>
Johnny <p></p><i></i>
You sure know how to draw hands...<br>
Did anybody tried that and managed not to hurt himself? <p></p><i></i>
Does this help?<br>
Johnny<br>
<img src="http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v245/shumate/cestroshand.jpg"/> <p></p><i></i>
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Yes, it helps a lot!<br>
I'm sending all your cestros drawing to my group people. They are mad enough as to test the method using our plumbatae. I'll tell you what happens after the summer...<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>
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
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Quote:</em></strong><hr>I think my dart is too light and it shoots about 30m up and plummets into the ground <hr><br>
Which is what the (heavier) plumbata is meant to do!<br>
<br>
Only difference is that (hand-thrown) it would not not higher than 10m, as tests have shown.<br>
<br>
When - at what moment - are you supposed to let go?<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert <p></p><i></i>
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Did I say 30m? Maybe I exaggerated! But it goes way up! Its no plumbata and I doubt is very effective used in that manner. My dart is light like an arrow and to my mind is best used as an arrow, not as hand-artillery such as the plumbata.<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
~ Paul Elliott
The Last Legionary
This book details the lives of Late Roman legionaries garrisoned in Britain in 400AD. It covers everything from battle to rations, camp duties to clothing.
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Quote:</em></strong><hr>hand-artillery such as the plumbata<hr><br>
Who said plumbatae were throw by hand? We can't be sure of that, since none of the sources tell us that.<br>
<br>
OK, OK, we assume they were, and most of us think they were. However, tests using string did increase their range dramatically, so maybe that's the way to do it after all. Now just find the proper technique.<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=vortigernstudies>Vortigern Studies</A> at: 6/11/04 2:41 pm<br></i>
Is the latin word,"scutalia" the word for shield?<br>
<br>
Here is the latin:<br>
"funda media duo scutalia imparia habebat"<br>
<br>
The "pocket" is shaped like a shield. And it seems to have 2 of them. I may have designed the cestrosphendon incorrectly!<br>
Opinions?<br>
<br>
Thanks<br>
Johnny <p></p><i></i>
Paul<br>
Could he be referring to the finger loop and the dart loop as illustrated above?<br>
Johnny <p></p><i></i>
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Quote:</em></strong><hr>funda media duo scutalia imparia habebat<hr><br>
As you know, <em>scutum</em> is a shield.<br>
But a <em>scutale</em> (pl. <em>scutalia</em>) is thought to be a leather thong, from the Greek word <em>skytos</em>.<br>
So the sling of the <em>cestrosphendon</em> has "two unequal thongs in the middle".<br>
(As far as I know, <em>scutale</em> is a word found only in Livy. But he has probably lifted this passage from Polybius, anyway, which would explain the use of a Greek-derived word.) <p></p><i></i>
DB<br>
Thanks so much for your input!<br>
This helps so much!<br>
<br>
I also have one of your books!!<br>
Great job!<br>
<br>
Thanks again<br>
Johnny <p></p><i></i>