H 245 x W 174 mm
254 pages
161 figures (colour throughout)
Published May 2024
ISBN
Paperback: 9781803277837
Digital: 9781803277844
Keywords
Roman; Ancient Rome; Imperial Army; Weaponry; Ranged Weapons; Catapults; Ballista
Related titles
Archaeopress Roman Archaeology 114
By Alan Wilkins
Paperback
£24.99
Includes PDF
PDF eBook
(personal use)
£16.00
PDF eBook
(institutional use)
£24.99
Fully revised and expanded for a new Third Edition, this book traces the Greek origins of torsion catapults, describes the machines used from the time of Sulla and Caesar, the Roman improvements in their design and power, and their importance in the defence of the Roman Empire.
Acknowledgements
Preface
Glossary
Weights and measures
Introduction
Greek origins
The menace of the new weapon
The bolt-shooter: accuracy, range and effects
Reconstructing the Roman bolt-shooter
The new design: the metal frame arch strut cheiroballistra/manuballista
Deciphering the manuscripts: Vitruvius’ ballista
The stone missiles: range and effects
Masada AD 73-74
Qasr Ibrim: artillery in defence. Inscribed stone shot
Artillery in action in the field: Arrian’s battle plan
Burnswark Roman camps and native hillfort, Dumfriesshire
The last stone-throwers
The Hatra stone-thrower and the inward-swinging arms theory
Survival
The Roman achievement
Future search and research
The Roman origin of the mediaeval revolving-nut crossbow release
Review of 2021 TV film on Burnswark Hill, ‘Massacre on Hadrian’s Wall’
Sources and references to artillery
Alan Wilkins studied Classics at Lancaster Royal Grammar School and read the subject at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, specialising in ancient history and archaeology under Professors Jocelyn Toynbee and A. G. Woodhead. He spent several years excavating on Roman military and civilian sites in Britain, and was a field assistant to Sir Ian Richmond for 17 years. He lectured on Greek and Roman Civilisation for Liverpool University’s Extra-Mural Department, and was one of the pioneers of the JACT evidence-based teaching of Greek and Roman history. After 30 years teaching Classics at Woodbridge School, Merchant Taylors School, Crosby and Annan Academy, he turned to the subject of Greek and Roman artillery, following the tragic early death of his friend Dr Eric Marsden. He has attempted to maintain the momentum of Eric’s research into the subject. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
'Alan Wilkins is the internatonal authority on Roman artillery. The successful expansion of the Roman state was due to the prowess of its army. Its deployment of artillery was hugely important in battles and in sieges. In this, the third, expanded edition of his important account of Roman artillery Alan Wilkins brings together evidence from the whole of the empire to offer a detailed description of these weapons and their use. A particular feature is his analysis of their use at Burnswark Hill in south-west Scotland.' – Professor David J. Breeze
'What comes through consistently is the author's personal commitment, his distinctive contribution to the development of the subject, his mastery of all the technical details, and his undimmed enthusiasm.' – Professor Lawrence Keppie (2019), Scottish Archaeology Journal