Cestrosphendon illustration

[Anonymous]

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>

[Robert Vermaat]

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>

[Anonymous]

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>

[Anonymous]

You sure know how to draw hands...<br>
Did anybody tried that and managed not to hurt himself? <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Does this help?<br>
Johnny<br>
<img src="http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v245/shumate/cestroshand.jpg"/> <p></p><i></i>

[aitor iriarte]

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>

[Mithras]

Sure I've tried it! img78.photobucket.com/alb...stros4.jpg In this cast, the kestros dart landed just left of the tree next to the long grass at its base, a distance of 45m.<br>
<br>
I'm writing a short article on the kestros for slinging.org at the moment.<br>
<br>
Experimenting all the time. An underhand throw is interesting. I think my dart is too light and it shoots about 30m up and plummets into the ground like those rogue V2s you see in the old wartime films<br>
<br>
I still get best results from an overhand or round the body cast. More tests with a staff sling version this weekend <p>Paul Elliott<br>
<br>
<strong>Heroes of Delphi</strong> - Classical Greece gone D20<br>
<strong>Zenobia</strong> - Fantasy RPG in the Eastern Roman Empire<br>
<strong>Warlords of Alexander</strong> - Kingdoms in conflict for the ruins of Alexander's Empire<br>
<br>
www.geocities.com/mithrapolis/games.html</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=mithras@romanarmytalk>Mithras</A> at: 6/10/04 8:31 pm<br></i>

[Robert Vermaat]

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>

[Mithras]

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>

[Robert Vermaat]

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>

[Anonymous]

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>

[Mithras]

OK. But what shaped shield? We are talking about mid Republic aren't we, the early 2ndC BC. Those are large oval rounded shields aren't they? <p>Paul Elliott<br>
<br>
<strong>Heroes of Delphi</strong> - Classical Greece gone D20<br>
<strong>Zenobia</strong> - Fantasy RPG in the Eastern Roman Empire<br>
<strong>Warlords of Alexander</strong> - Kingdoms in conflict for the ruins of Alexander's Empire<br>
<br>
www.geocities.com/mithrapolis/games.html</p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Paul<br>
Could he be referring to the finger loop and the dart loop as illustrated above?<br>
Johnny <p></p><i></i>

[D B Campbell]

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>

[Anonymous]

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>