Gastraphetes
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The gastraphetes, also called belly bow or belly shooter, was a hand-held crossbow used by the Ancient Greeks. It was described in the 1st century by the Greek author Heron of Alexandria in his work B
A modern reconstruction of the Greek gastraphetes
Crossbowman cocking the gastraphetes
The design of the gastraphetes according to Heron of Alexandria
A reconstruction of a gastraphetes in Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology, Athens, Greece.
Greek and Roman artillery
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The Greeks and Romans both made extensive use of artillery for shooting large arrows, bolts or spherical stones or metal balls. Occasionally they also used ranged early thermal weapons. There was heav
Greek non-torsion siege crossbow (gastraphetes)
Hellenistic era artillery tower with arrow shooters (euthytona) and stone throwers (palintona)
Hellenistic era semi-automatic bolt shooter (polybolos)
Roman imperial era 1-talent (75-pounder) ballista used in siege warfare