Source of an anecdode: Catapults firing Jars of Snakes

[D B Campbell]

Where?

Themyscira (Turkey), 72 BC.
"The besiegers of this place [i.e. Lucullus' Roman legions] brought up towers, built embankments, and dug tunnels so large that great subterranean battles could be fought in them. The inhabitants cut openings into these tunnels from above and thrust bears and other wild animals and swarms of bees into them against the workers" (App., Mithr. 78 ). hock:

Actually, on the subject of gas attack, the defenders of Ambracia in 189 BC filled the Roman siege tunnel with noxious smoke. Does that qualify?!

[Muzzaguchi]

Hi All,

Bees and wasps are also suggested as an anti-mine defence in Aeneas Tacticus 37.4 (c.360 BC)

Cheers

Murray

[Magnus]

So the movie Snakes on a Plane had an ancient greek counterpart!

[Eleatic Guest]

Where?

Themyscira (Turkey), 72 BC.
"The besiegers of this place [i.e. Lucullus' Roman legions] brought up towers, built embankments, and dug tunnels so large that great subterranean battles could be fought in them. The inhabitants cut openings into these tunnels from above and thrust bears and other wild animals and swarms of bees into them against the workers" (App., Mithr. 78 ). hock:

Actually, on the subject of gas attack, the defenders of Ambracia in 189 BC filled the Roman siege tunnel with noxious smoke. Does that qualify?!

For the defenders, yes. :wink: I could well imagine that smoke must have been more effective, as less fickle to handle than poisonous gas.