Ballista

Description and Ballista Design
One of the siege weapons used during the Middle Ages include the Ballista. The Ballista was an invaluable Medieval siege attack weapon. The Ballista design was similar to a giant crossbow and worked by using tension. The Ballista was designed to aim huge wooden, iron clad, darts or arrows which were powered by twisted skeins of rope, hair, or sinew - the ballista design was based on a huge dart-throwing machine. The Ballista loosed heavy bolts, darts and spears along a flat trajectory. The force of the missiles launched from the Ballista was designed to have great penetration and were capable of skewering several of the enemy at one time!

Definition and Origin of the Ballista
The word 'Ballista' is derived from the Greek word 'Ballistes' meaning to throw. In England siege weapons, including the Ballista, was also known as the Ingenium from the Latin word ingenium meaning ingenious device! Plural - ballistae

   
  

Ballista

  • Interesting Facts and information about Medieval Ballista used in warfare during the Middle Ages
  • Description and Ballista Design
  • Ballista History
  • Building and Design of the Ballista
  • Ballista Catapults
  • Building a Ballista

Ballista

A weapon used during the Middle Ages ( Medieval period ) in siege warfare. The Ballista was similar to a Giant Crossbow and worked by using tension.

Ballista History
Ballista history dates back to antiquity. The Ballista is believed to be an ancient war engine which was invented by the Greeks (the Scorpion) and modified by the Romans in 400BC. An interesting story related to ballista history refers to Greek and Roman Women who grew long hair as a patriotic gesture in case new ballistae were required. The Ballista reached Europe during the Medieval era and was used extensively by the French. Ballista history notes that the weapon introduced to England in 1216 during the Siege of Dover - as were many other types of siege engine. Louis the Dauphin of France crossed the Channel with a large force and laid siege to Dover Castle making a violent and incessant attack on the castle walls. He used the Ballista against the walls and men of Dover Castle. The constable of Dover castle was Hugh de Burgh - he refused to surrender.

Building and Design of the Ballista
The Ballista was a highly accurate siege engine requiring expert building and design skills. The Ballista was similar to a giant crossbow and worked by using tension.

  • The two arms of a Ballista were made of wood
  • Ropes were attached to each arm were the springs of the Ballista
  • The ropes were made of twisted strands of human hair or animal sinew
  • When the bow-arms of the Ballista were pulled back, they twisted the ropes
  • The bowstring was pulled back by a winch

Although the design and building of the Ballista was highly accurate its range was less than that of the massive Trebuchet. The missiles launched by the Ballista were much lighter than the heavy trebuchet stones and could not gain the high momentum of the heavier missiles.

Ballista Catapults - the Springald
The ballista was designed as a giant catapult. One type of ballista was a tension-driven device called a springald. The springald closely resembled a crossbow in function with a vertical springboard fixed at its lower end to a timber frame. The springboard moved like a lever. Missiles thrown from the Ballista catapults were deadly. The Ballista catapults were highly accurate and could release up to 1000 missiles in one day! Ballista catapults could launch missiles across hundreds of yards. Attackers were ingenious in their ideas for launching ballista catapult missiles which would cause as much distress and discomfort inside the castle walls. Missiles launched from Ballista catapults included the following:

  • Darts with iron points
  • Sharp wooden poles
  • Body parts
  • Diseased and rotting carcasses

Building a Ballista
Building a  Ballista required the design and building skills. Siege weapons, such as the ballista, were made to order! They were far too cumbersome to move from one place to another. In a siege situation the commander would assess the situation and the siege weapons design requirements to break a siege. Engineers would instruct soldiers as to the construction and building of siege weapons such as the ballista. For additional information please click one of the following links:



 Ballista
Each section of Middle Ages Weapons provides interesting facts and information about Medieval warfare in addition to the Ballista. The Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts provided about the fascinating subject of the Medieval period of the Middle Ages!

Ballista

  • Middle Ages Castles, Knights, Crusaders, Crusaders and Siege Weapons
  • Description and Ballista Design
  • Description of the Ballista
  • Ballista History
  • Building and Design of the Ballista
  • Ballista Catapults - the Springald
  • Building a Ballista

Ballista

The Ballista - History of Ballista - Interesting Information about Ballista - Ballista Facts - Ballista Info - Middle Ages Weapon - Middle Ages Weapon - Middle Ages Wepon - The Ballista - Ballista History - Information about Ballista - Ballista Facts - Ballista Info - Siege Weapons - Information about Siege Weapons - Siege Weapons Facts - Siege Weapons Info - Middle Ages Period era - Siege Weapons - Siege Weapons History - Information about Siege Weapons - Siege Weapons Facts - Siege Weapon Info - Middle Ages Period era - Middle Ages Period Life - Seige Engines - Seige Weapon - Seige Weapons - Research paper - Research study - Castle siege weapons - Middle Age siege weapon - Design - Building - Construction - Waepons - Paper research - Medieval - Middle Age Siege Weapon - Ballista - Written By Linda Alchin