06-27-2008, 03:52 AM
Was there ever an atlatl, that is, a spear thrower, in the Roman Legionaires panoply of weapons? I saw it mentioned on TV and they said it was possibly older than the bow and known to every civilisation in the world. This got me to thinking that the Legionaire really should have had one as the thrown Pilum was probably their favorite weapon and tactic; and the Romans were famous for studying their weaponry and never foregoing any advantage. I have never seen one mentioned, however. As it can increase the force and range of the thrown spear very substantially it seems mysterious to me why they wouldn't they have one if they did not.
