08-03-2008, 07:56 PM
Quote:IIRC this has been mentioned by IP Stephenson (very often I don't agree with him, but here he could be right...).I'd be very surprised if he had come up with this one!
I think Marsden already considered this in 1969/1971. Of course, you'd then need to explain why there are manuballistae (= cheiroballistrai) and arcuballistae, if they're essentially the same thing. Personally, I prefer the arcuballista as "bow-ballista" powered by a bow, to draw a distinction with the torsion manuballista / cheiroballistra.