03-18-2013, 04:52 PM
Quote:My understanding is that it is now pretty much accepted that plumbatae (sp???--my latin declensions fail me), were thrown with an overhand motion. My question is whether anyone knows if soldiers threw them like a javelin with a closed fist, or did they use some other technique?
Quote:Hmm...I'm more of the lobbed or "mortar" school of thought, personally. Lofted, high trajectory makes more use of the lead weight and penetration of armour I would have thought.
Plumbatae can be thrown both overarm as well as underarm. Modern testing has resulted in longer distances of underarm throws. Overarm throws result in a flatter trajectory, but at shorter distances the plumbata hits with more speed = impact. This impact can be matched by an underarm throw when the plumbata falls from a higher distance.
Current thinking is that underarm throws are used for targets both further away and protectd from the front, while the overarm technique would fit a target better which is at close range.
Speculative reasoning based on modern testing of course.
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)