Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Ballista

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

BALL'ISTA or BAL'ISTA (λιθοβόλος, or -ον). An engine used at sieges for hurling ponderous masses of stone. (Lucil. Sat. xxviii. p. 61. 23. Gerlach. Cic. Tusc. ii. 24. Tacit. Hist. iv. 23.) Neither the descriptions of the Latin authors, nor the monuments of art enable us to form a distinct notion of the manner in which these machines were constructed; and the different attempts of modern antiquaries to restore a specimen from the words of Vitruvius (x. 11.) and of Ammianus (xxiii. 4. § 1 — 3), must be regarded as too uncertain and conjectural to be invested with any degree of authority. They were, however, made of different dimensions, called majores and minores (Liv. xxvi. 47.); and some were used as field engines, being placed upon carriages and drawn by horses or mules, so that they could be readily transported to any position on the field of battle, thence termed CARROBALLISTAE, one of which is represented on the column of Antoninus. We have subsequently introduced it as an illustration to that word; and it may serve to convey a general notion as to what these machines were like; but is far too imperfect and deficient in detail to afford any approximation towards a distinct understanding of the exact principle upon which they were constructed.