Polybolos: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Ancient Greek siege engine}} |
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| ⚫ | [[Philo of Byzantium]] encountered and described a weapon similar to the polybolos, a [[catapult]] that |
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== Mechanism == |
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[[File:Ancient Mechanical Artillery. Pic 01.jpg|thumb|Arsenal of ancient mechanical artillery in the [[Saalburg]], Germany; left: polybolos reconstruction by the German engineer Erwin Schramm (1856–1935)]] |
[[File:Ancient Mechanical Artillery. Pic 01.jpg|thumb|Arsenal of ancient mechanical artillery in the [[Saalburg]], Germany; left: polybolos reconstruction by the German engineer Erwin Schramm (1856–1935)]] |
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| ⚫ | The '''polybolos''' (the name means "multi-thrower" in [[Hellenistic Greek | Greek]]<ref>{{cite book| last = Prenderghast| first = Gerald | title = Repeating and Multi-Fire Weapons: A History from the Zhuge Crossbow Through the AK-47| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_bhTDwAAQBAJ&q=Polybolos+dionysus&pg=PA14 | publisher = McFarland | date= March 2018 | page = 14 | isbn = 978-1476666662}}</ref>) was an [[Ancient Greece| ancient Greek]] repeating [[ballista]], reputedly invented by Dionysius of Alexandria (a 3rd-century BC [[Greeks |Greek]] engineer at the [[Rhodes (city)| Rhodes]] arsenal,<ref name="Soedel & Foley">{{cite journal|author= Werner Soedel, Vernard Foley|url=http://www.hellenicaworld.com/Greece/Technology/en/Catapults.html |title= Ancient Catapults|journal=[[Scientific American]]|volume=240|issue=3 |date=March 1979|pages= 124–125|doi= 10.1038/scientificamerican0379-150 |bibcode=1979SciAm.240c.150S |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190520164059/http://www.hellenicaworld.com/Greece/Technology/en/Catapults.html|archive-date= 2019-05-20|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Alan Wilkins|title=Roman Artillery|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VCkGVJG6XOUC|year=2003|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-0-7478-0575-5|page=8}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>) and used in [[classical antiquity| antiquity]]. The polybolo was not a [[crossbow]] since it used a [[torsion siege engine|torsion mechanism]], drawing its power from twisted sinew-bundles.{{sfn|Needham|1994|p=172-173}} |
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| ⚫ | The polybolos would have differed from an ordinary ballista in that it had a wooden hopper magazine, capable of holding several dozen bolts, that was positioned over the mensa (the cradle that holds the bolt prior to firing). The mechanism is unique in that it is driven by a [[Flat chain|flat-link chain]] connected to a [[windlass]]. The mensa itself was a sliding plank (similar to that on the gastraphetes) containing the claw latches used to pull back the drawstring and was attached to the chain link. When loading a new bolt and spanning the drawstring, the windlass is rotated counterclockwise; this drives the mensa forward towards the bow string. At the very front, a metal lug |
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| ⚫ | [[Philo of Byzantium]] ({{circa}} 280 BC – {{circa}} 220 BC) encountered and described a weapon similar to the polybolos, a [[catapult]] that could fire again and again without a need for manual reloading.<ref>Philo of Byzantium, "Belopoeica", 73.34</ref> Philo left a detailed description of the [[gear]]s that powered its [[chain drive]] (the oldest known application of such a mechanism<ref name="Soedel & Foley"/>) and that placed [[Crossbow bolt| bolt]] after bolt into its firing slot.{{cn|date=January 2022}} |
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| ⚫ | Once the string is held firm by the trigger mechanism, the windlass is then rotated clockwise; pulling the mensa back and drawing the bow string with it. At the same time, a round wooden pole in the bottom of the magazine is rotated via a spiral groove being driven by a rivet |
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| ⚫ | Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus Digital Library</ref> and {{lang|grc|-βόλος}} ({{transl|grc|-bolos}}) "thrower", in turn from {{lang|grc|βάλλω}} ({{transl|grc|ballo}}), "to throw, to hurl",<ref>[ |
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== Design == |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | The polybolos would have differed from an ordinary ballista in that it had a wooden hopper magazine, capable of holding several dozen bolts, that was positioned over the mensa (the cradle that holds the bolt prior to firing). The mechanism is unique in that it is driven by a [[Flat chain|flat-link chain]] connected to a [[windlass]]. The mensa itself was a sliding plank (similar to that on the gastraphetes) containing the claw latches used to pull back the drawstring and was attached to the chain link. When loading a new bolt and spanning the drawstring, the windlass is rotated counterclockwise by an operator standing on the left side of the weapon; this drives the mensa forward towards the bow string. At the very front, a metal lug triggers the latching claws into catching the drawstring.{{cn|date=January 2022}} |
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| ⚫ | In 2010 a [[MythBusters (2010 season)#Episode 152 - Arrow Machine Gun| |
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| ⚫ | Once the string is held firm by the trigger mechanism, the windlass is then rotated clockwise; pulling the mensa back and drawing the bow string with it. At the same time, a round wooden pole in the bottom of the magazine is rotated via a spiral groove being driven by a rivet attached to the sliding mensa; dropping a single bolt from a carved notch in the rotating pole. With the drawstring pulled back and a bolt loaded on the mensa, the polybolos is ready to be fired. As the windlass is rotated further back to the very back end, the claws on the mensa meets another lug like the one that pushed the claws into catching the string. This one causes the claws to disengage the drawstring and automatically fires the loaded bolt. Upon the bolt being fired, the process is repeated. The repetition provides the weapon's name, in [[Greek language|Greek]] {{lang|grc|πολυβόλος}}, "throwing many missiles",<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dpolubo%2Flos πολυβόλος], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus Digital Library</ref> from {{lang|grc|πολύς}} ({{transl|grc|polys}}), "multiple, many"<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dpolu%2Fs πολύς], |
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| ⚫ | Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus Digital Library</ref> and {{lang|grc|-βόλος}} ({{transl|grc|-bolos}}) "thrower", in turn from {{lang|grc|βάλλω}} ({{transl|grc|ballo}}), "to throw, to hurl",<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dba%2Fllw βάλλω], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus Digital Library</ref> literally a multithrower. |
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| ⚫ | In 2010, a [[MythBusters (2010 season)#Episode 152 - Arrow Machine Gun|''MythBusters'' episode]] was dedicated to building and testing a replica, and concluded that its existence as a historical weapon was plausible. However, the machine MythBusters built was prone to breakdowns that had to be fixed multiple times.<ref>[https://mythresults.com/arrow-machine-gun Episode 152: Arrow Machine Gun]. mythresults.com, November 3, 2010.</ref> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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*[[Gastraphetes]] |
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*[[ |
* [[Gastraphetes]] |
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*[[ |
* [[Repeating crossbow]] |
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* [[Rapid fire crossbow]] |
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*[[Chain gun]], a conceptually similar modern weapon |
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* [[Chain gun]] |
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* [[Panjagan]] |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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==Bibliography== |
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* {{Citation|last=Needham|first=Joseph|year=1994|title=Science and Civilization in China Volume 5 Part 6|publisher=Cambridge University Press}} |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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{{Commonscat |
{{Commonscat}} |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071014012016/http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/RepCatapult.htm The Repeating Catapult of Dionysius] |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071014012016/http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/RepCatapult.htm The Repeating Catapult of Dionysius] |
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* [http://www.downvids.net/the-repeating-039-039-polybolos-039-039-catapult-of-dionysios-of-alexandria-407998.html Reconstructed Polybolos in action] (clip) |
* [http://www.downvids.net/the-repeating-039-039-polybolos-039-039-catapult-of-dionysios-of-alexandria-407998.html Reconstructed Polybolos in action] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233129/http://www.downvids.net/the-repeating-039-039-polybolos-039-039-catapult-of-dionysios-of-alexandria-407998.html |date=2013-12-02 }} (clip) |
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{{Ancient mechanical artillery and hand-held missile weapons}} |
{{Ancient mechanical artillery and hand-held missile weapons}} |
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[[Category:Ancient Greek artillery]] |
[[Category:Ancient Greek artillery]] |
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[[Category:Projectile weapons]] |
[[Category:Projectile weapons]] |
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[[Category:Lost inventions]] |
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Latest revision as of 13:15, 30 July 2024
The polybolos (the name means "multi-thrower" in Greek[1]) was an ancient Greek repeating ballista, reputedly invented by Dionysius of Alexandria (a 3rd-century BC Greek engineer at the Rhodes arsenal,[2][3]) and used in antiquity. The polybolo was not a crossbow since it used a torsion mechanism, drawing its power from twisted sinew-bundles.[4]
Philo of Byzantium (c. 280 BC – c. 220 BC) encountered and described a weapon similar to the polybolos, a catapult that could fire again and again without a need for manual reloading.[5] Philo left a detailed description of the gears that powered its chain drive (the oldest known application of such a mechanism[2]) and that placed bolt after bolt into its firing slot.[citation needed]
Design
[edit]The polybolos would have differed from an ordinary ballista in that it had a wooden hopper magazine, capable of holding several dozen bolts, that was positioned over the mensa (the cradle that holds the bolt prior to firing). The mechanism is unique in that it is driven by a flat-link chain connected to a windlass. The mensa itself was a sliding plank (similar to that on the gastraphetes) containing the claw latches used to pull back the drawstring and was attached to the chain link. When loading a new bolt and spanning the drawstring, the windlass is rotated counterclockwise by an operator standing on the left side of the weapon; this drives the mensa forward towards the bow string. At the very front, a metal lug triggers the latching claws into catching the drawstring.[citation needed]
Once the string is held firm by the trigger mechanism, the windlass is then rotated clockwise; pulling the mensa back and drawing the bow string with it. At the same time, a round wooden pole in the bottom of the magazine is rotated via a spiral groove being driven by a rivet attached to the sliding mensa; dropping a single bolt from a carved notch in the rotating pole. With the drawstring pulled back and a bolt loaded on the mensa, the polybolos is ready to be fired. As the windlass is rotated further back to the very back end, the claws on the mensa meets another lug like the one that pushed the claws into catching the string. This one causes the claws to disengage the drawstring and automatically fires the loaded bolt. Upon the bolt being fired, the process is repeated. The repetition provides the weapon's name, in Greek πολυβόλος, "throwing many missiles",[6] from πολύς (polys), "multiple, many"[7] and -βόλος (-bolos) "thrower", in turn from βάλλω (ballo), "to throw, to hurl",[8] literally a multithrower.
Popular culture
[edit]In 2010, a MythBusters episode was dedicated to building and testing a replica, and concluded that its existence as a historical weapon was plausible. However, the machine MythBusters built was prone to breakdowns that had to be fixed multiple times.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Prenderghast, Gerald (March 2018). Repeating and Multi-Fire Weapons: A History from the Zhuge Crossbow Through the AK-47. McFarland. p. 14. ISBN 978-1476666662.
- ^ a b Werner Soedel, Vernard Foley (March 1979). "Ancient Catapults". Scientific American. 240 (3): 124–125. Bibcode:1979SciAm.240c.150S. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0379-150. Archived from the original on 2019-05-20.
- ^ Alan Wilkins (2003). Roman Artillery. Osprey Publishing. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-7478-0575-5.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Needham 1994, p. 172-173.
- ^ Philo of Byzantium, "Belopoeica", 73.34
- ^ πολυβόλος, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library
- ^ πολύς, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library
- ^ βάλλω, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library
- ^ Episode 152: Arrow Machine Gun. mythresults.com, November 3, 2010.
Bibliography
[edit]- Needham, Joseph (1994), Science and Civilization in China Volume 5 Part 6, Cambridge University Press
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polybolos.
- The Repeating Catapult of Dionysius
- Reconstructed Polybolos in action Archived 2013-12-02 at the Wayback Machine (clip)