Cestrosphendon

[Anonymous]

Looking on another message board, I came across this reference to an interesting weapon that I have never heard of before: [url=http://www.slinging.org/forum2/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=1;action=display;num=1074713443" target="top]Cestrosphendon[/url]. Does anyone have more information? <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Fascinating. The missile looks very much like one of the modern interpretations of the martiobarbula..<br>
How does "cestrophendon" translates? <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

The only thing is the plumbatae had lead weights this more like a slung dart with speed doing the penetration vice the weight.<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Owain/Cicero/Dave <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

I am giving this thread a shameless bump as the link on sling.org has now attracted a great deal of attention which may be of further interest. <p></p><i></i>

[Mithras]

Yes - I've made one and I'm currently field testing it! My design is heavily influenced a fellow slinger on the slinging.org website.<br>
<br>
Interesting not just from a ballistics/ancient missile weapon point of view, but also from a historical one. Was the kestros a brief experiment that was never pursued? I don't know of any use or reference beyond its use by the Macedonians against Sulla (but then I haven't looked).<br>
<br>
See the bottom of my webpage: www.geocities.com/zozergames/sling.html <p></p><i></i>

[D B Campbell]

Quote:</em></strong><hr>How does "cestrophendon" translate?<hr><br>
This appears to be a Greek loan word used (created?) by Livy.<br>
In the original description, Polybius mentions only the <em>kestros</em>, as a missile thrown by <em>sphendonê</em>, or sling (Plb. 27.11).<br>
Livy's description (note that much of his work is assumed to have been lifted from Polybius) begins: "they were especially hurt by the cestro-sling" (<em>maxime cestrosphendonis vulnerabantur</em>; Liv. 42.65). <p></p><i></i>