Aitor Alert! Manuballista found!

[Anonymous]

Another question for our specialists: there are references to women given their hair to fit the machines during certain sieges and I vaguely remember reading something about the exceptional stretching quality of hair, animal or human. You seem to imply that actually hair was not so good for the torsion springs?<br>
And the IInd C BC find of a modioli is finally only logical. I suppose that once the hellenistic engineers got the system right and the right calculations for the calibers, they logically went for bigger, but also for smaller machines.<br>
I'll leave the specialists answer the question about power and accuracy. All I've read about it is that these weapons are both impressively powerful and amazingly accurate. <p></p><i></i>

[John M McDermott]

I have happily obtained enough horsehair rope of 3/4 inch thickness to spring my 4-span. Aitor seems to indicate 3/4 inch would have been OK for horsehair. The data I see on horsehair states it has excellent "memory".<br>
<br>
I have seen no data on animal rope. Nothing. No one seems to know. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=johnmmcdermott>JOHN M MCDERMOTT</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://photobucket.com/albums/v488/JohnMcDermott/th_DSC00144.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 2/25/05 5:29 pm<br></i>

[Vincula]

The remains go on display in the Römisch-Germanischen Museum in Köln (Cologne) from March 12th.

Did any RATers visit :?:

[Praefectusclassis]

Yes, several RAT-ers did. Pictures aplenty!

[Lucius Aurelius Metellus]

Any chance of posting some of the photos here? I'd love to see that machine!

[Flavius Promotus]

Ok, my old username resurrected again ! ("Iit worrkssss!" - Judge Death)

Lucius, I've been at Cologne this weekend and could send you images of the original and the reconstruction via mail if you want to.
Aitor, the same goes for you - want some ?

best wishes
F.P.

[Lucius Aurelius Metellus]

That would be great, Flavius, thanks so much!

[Flavius Promotus]

Oooops - seems I've flooded your mailbox.

I am awfully sorry ! I wanted to provide you with the highest resolution possible, but maybe I should have downsized them a little.
Hope it doesn't cause you too many inconveniences.

F.P.

[aitor iriarte]

Oh, yes, ssuuure!!! Many thanks

Aitor

[Vincula]

Yes, several RAT-ers did. Pictures aplenty!

Can we see some?

[Praefectusclassis]

Oh, alright... :wink:
Here's some. First the newly found tombstone (details, as ever, in the imagebase), then the catapult and a reconstruction, a new helmet and finally some of the RAT-ers in real life. L-R: Hans (Hansvl), Jeroen (Pelgr003) and Florian (Flavius Promotus).

[hansvl]

Isn't it weird that whenever a guy doesn't know what to do with his hands when a picture is being taken while sitting down, he uses them to 'protect his royal bits' :lol:

But serious now: when discussing this new stone in the exhibit in Cologne, our excellent guide (magister navis) referred to a focale worn by this soldier (auxiliary/legionary?), but to me this seems more like the folds of a hood/cap belonging to the paenula the soldier is wearing. I didn't went into this at the time of our visit because the topic changed rappidly. But am I wrong and is it just a focale?

Hans

[Praefectusclassis]

To be honest, to me it looked like an extension of the paenula too. Good thing I have a detail shot here:

[aitor iriarte]

Eeerrr, perhaps all this stuff should have followed on the Off-topic RAT visit to Cologne (only a suggestion) :?:

Aitor :?

[Jeroen Pelgrom]

i have already edited that thread so it points to this one