Source Documentation for Siege Engine Research

1.Marsden, Eric William. Greek and Roman artillery; historical development [by] E. W. Marsden. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1969. ix, 218 p. illus. (part col.) plates. 24 cm.

2.Marsden, Eric William. Greek and Roman artillery; technical treatises [by] E. W. Marsden. Oxford, Clarendon P., 1971. xviii, 278 p. 19 plates, illus. (some col.) 24 cm. ISBN 0198142692

Marsdens' books are the BEST source for catapult construction information.

Edward Hamilton has both volumes in a version published by

Oxford. Price for both is $49.95, +S&H.

http://www.hamiltonbook.com and search or http://hb4.aitg.com/cgi-bin/hamiltonbook.storefront/3a65f8a3025d99c22720d8205b7306dc/Export/products/0961701

3.  Halbritter's Arms through the ages : an introduction to the secret weapons of history. New York : Viking Press, 1979, c1978. 158 p. : chiefly ill. ; 22 cm.   ISBN 0670359084

4.Soedel, Werner and Foley, Vernard "Ancient Catapults", (Scientific American Mar. 79), pp. 150-60.  This is no longer available from the publisher in a back issue, but may be found at a local library.  Or, get a copy from this web page: http://198.144.2.125/Siege/siege.htm

5.Chevedden, Paul E. et al., "The Trebuchet", (Scientific American Jul. 95), pp. 66-71.

6. Christopher Gravett, Medieval Siege Warfare, ed. Martin Windrow (London: Osprey Publishing, 1990)

7. Werner Soedel and Vernard Foley, "Ancient Catapults." Scientific American, March 1979.

The following were provided by Direktor Baatz at Fortress Saalburg Museum.  See his website for more information on siege engines at:

http://home.t-online.de/home/d.baatz/catapult.htm

CATAPULTS IN GREEK AND ROMAN ANTIQUITY - A LIST OF RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abbreviations, general introduction
Schramm 1918 E. Schramm, Die antiken Gesch�tze der Saalburg (Bad Homburg 1918, Reprint 1980)
Marsden 1969 E.W. Marsden, Greek and Roman Artillery I. Historical Development (Oxford 1969)
Marsden 1971 E.W. Marsden, Greek and Roman Artillery II. Technical Treatises (Oxford 1971)
Baatz 1978 D. Baatz, Recent Finds of Ancient Artillery. Britannia 9, 1978, 1-17
Mil. Equipm. 1993 M.C. Bishop/J.C.N. Coulston, Roman military equipment (London 1993)
Feug�re 1993 M. Feug�re, Les armes des romains (Paris 1993)
Baatz 1994 D. Baatz, Bauten und Katapulte des r�mischen Heeres (Stuttgart 1994)

Representations of catapults in ancient art
Balustrade relief from Athena sanctuary, Pergamon: Schramm 1918, 35 fig. 9; Marsden 1969, pl.3;
Baatz, Mitt. DAI Athen 97, 1982, pl. 45,1
Cupid gem: Baatz, Mitt. DAI Athen 97, 1982, pl. 46,1; W. Barthel, Mitt. DAI Rom 24, 1909, 100-108.
Reliefs from Rome, Armilustrium(?): Schramm 1918, 38-9 fig. 12-13; J. W. Crous,
Mitt. DAI Rom 48, 1933, 1-119; 77 type 15.
Tombstone of Vedennius, Rome: Marsden 1969, 185; pl. 1; Baatz, Mitt. DAI Rom 87, 1980, 296f. pl. 90,2
Reliefs on Trajan�s Column, Rome: Marsden 1969, pl. 9-13; Baatz 1978, pl. 4B; C. Cichorius, Die Reliefs
der Trajanss�ule (1896-1900)

Ancient technical text figures
The ancient catapult treatises were illustrated with text figures. The original drawings are not preserved, but there are mediaeval copies. Reproductions: C. Wescher, Poliorc�tique des Grecs (Paris 1867);
Schramm 1918, 11-13 fig.1-2

Archaeological finds of catapult components
Several find reports are collected in: Baatz 1994
Sunion, Attika (Greece): H. Williams, Classical Views NS. 11, 1992, 181-187
Ephyra (Greece): Baatz, Mitt. DAI Athen 97, 1982, 211-233
Ampurias (Spain): Schramm 1918, 40-46; pl. 11
Azaila, Teruel (Spain): J. Cabr�, Archivo Espagnol de Arte y Arqueologia 1, 1925, 14 fig. 13; id., Ceramica
de Azaila (Madrid 1944) 7; M. Beltr�n Lloris, Arqueologia e Historia de las Civdades des Cabezo
de Alcal� de Azaila (Zaragoza 1976) 17 note 207, pl. 6,3778.3788.
La Caridad, Caminreal, Teruel (Spain): Los Bronces Romanos en Espagna. Exhibition Catalogue 1990
(Madrid 1990) 204 No. 7
Mahdia (Tunisia): Baatz, Arch. Anz. 1985, 679-691
Auerberg, Bavaria (Germany): Baatz in: G. Ulbert, Der Auerberg I. (M�nchen 1994) 173-187
Cremona (Italy): Baatz, Mitt. DAI Rom 87, 1980, 283-299
Elginhaugh (Great Britain): unpublished
Bath (Great Britain): Baatz, in: B. Cunliffe, The Temple of Sulis Minerva at Bath 2. The Finds from the
Sacred Spring (Oxford 1988) 7-9 fig. 4,6; pl. 5-7
Hatra (Iraq): Baatz 1978, 3-9; id., Antike Welt 9/4, 1978, 50-57
Lyon (France): Feug�re and Baatz, Gallia 39, 1981, 207-209
Pergamon (Turkey): W. Gaitzsch in: C. Dobiat (ed.), Festschrift O.-H. Frey. Marburger Studien
z. Vor- u. Fr�hgesch. 18 (Marburg 1994) 235-242
Gornea, Orsova (Romania): Gudea and Baatz, Saalburg-Jahrb. 31, 1974, 50-72; Baatz 1978, 9-16
Pityus (Georgia): Baatz, Saalburg-Jahrb. 44, 1988, 59-64
Sala, Volubilis (Maroc): Ch. Boube-Piccot, Les bronzes antiques du Maroc IV. L��quipement militaire
et l�armement (Paris 1994) 188-197 pl. 49-50

Catapult missiles
Catapult arrows and bolts
Baatz, Mitt. DAI Athen 97, 1982, 229-231 fig. 7, pl. 45,2 (Ephyra, Greece; hellenistic catapult arrowheads)
W. Zanier, Germania 72, 1994, 587-596 (Oberammergau, Germany; stamped augustan arrowhead of Legio XIX)
E. Schramm, Mitt. Altertumskomm. Westfalen 4, 1905, 121-124 (Haltern, Germany; augustan catapult arrowheads and arrow foreshaft fragments)
Ch. Unz and E. Deschler-Erb, Katalog der Militaria aus Vindonissa (Brugg 1997) 24 no. 434; pl. 22,434 (Vindonissa, Switzerland; first half of first cent. AD catapult arrow foreshaft with iron arrowhead)
S. James and J. Taylor, Saalburg-Jahrb. 47, 1997, 93-98 (Qasr Ibrim, Egypt; first half of first cent. AD catapult arrow foreshaft)
Rostovtzeff, Bellinger, Hopkins and Welles, The Excavations at Dura-Europos. Prelim. Rep. of Sixth Season of Work (New Haven 1936) 455-6 pl. 24,2 (Dura-Europos, Syria; mid-third cent. AD complete catapult bolt)
S. James, Saalburg-Jahrb. 39, 1983, 142-3 (Dura-Europos, Syria; mid-third cent. AD iron incendiary arrowhead of catapult bolt)
Stone balls
E. Boehringer in: von Szalay and Boehringer, Die hellenistischen Arsenale. Altert�mer von Pergamon 10
(Berlin 1937) 48-54 pl. 31 (Pergamon, Turkey; hellenistic)
L. Laurenzi in: Studi Annibalici (Cortona 1964) 141-154 (Rhodos, Greece; hellenistic)
B. Rathgen, Zeitschr. f. histor. Waffenkunde 5, 1909-11, 236-244 (Carthage, Tunisia; 2nd cent. BC; function of these stone balls discussed, see Marsden 1969, 79-80)

Catapult emplacements
Greek towns
F. Krischen, Die Stadtmauern von Pompeji und griechische Festungsbaukunst in Unteritalien und Sizilien. Die hellenistische Kunst in Pompeji 7 (Berlin 1941) 29-30 pl. 11-13. 19. 41-43 (heavy forward catapult emplacement at Selinus, Sicily); Marsden 1969, 116-163; A. W. Lawrence, Greek Aims in Fortification (Oxford 1979) 43-49.
Roman towns and forts
M. Todd, The Walls of Rome (London 1978) 19-20 fig. 4 (cat. emplacement inserted in Servian Wall 87 BC)
D. B. Campbell, Ballistaria in first to mid-third century Britain. Britannia 15, 1984, 75-84

Ranges and effects
Schramm 1918, 24-27 - Marsden 1969, 86-98 - Baatz 1994, 136-145

Catapult reconstructions
There are many groups now reconstructing catapults, but only few documentation. Reconstructing catapults began in the 19th century in France by Dufour and de Reffye under encouragement of Napoleon III. Some fine reconstructions have been built in Germany by E. Schramm from 1904 until 1916, published with construction plans in: Schramm 1918. Many of Schramm�s reconstructions are still extant in the Saalburgmuseum, Bad Homburg, Germany. Some recent experiments: Marsden 1971, 232-236 (reproduction of cheiroballistra); A. Wilkins, Reconstructing the cheiroballistra. Journ. Roman Mil. Equipment 6, 1995, 5-59 (with quite different result); J. G. Landels, Engineering in the Ancient World (London 1978) 99-132

Greek and Roman hand-held mechanical weapons ("crossbows")
Composite bow weapons
Gastraphetes: Schramm 1918, 16. 47-49, corrected by Marsden 1969, 5-12 - Marsden 1971, 21-23
Roman hunting crossbow: Baatz, Die r�mische Jagdarmbrust. Arch. Korrbl. 21, 1991, 283-290
Feug�re 1993, 213-214
Torsion spring weapons
Hellenistic types: in the Ephyra and Mahdia finds very small modioli prove the existence of such weapons
Roman imperial period: Bath and Elginhaugh finds also with very small modioli
D. B. Campbell, Bonner Jahrb. 186, 1986, 126f. (mechane of Roman cavalry: composite bow or torsion spring weapon?)
Late Roman period, cheiroballistra and manuballista: see Gornea find, Baatz 1978, 14-17
Text of Ps.-Heron, Cheiroballistra: Marsden 1971, 206-231

Roman Imperial Artillery
Marsden 1969, 174-198 - Mil. Equipm. 1993, 55-57. 80-81. 114-115. 139-141. 160-167 - Feug�re 1993, 104-107. 205--223 - Baatz 1994, 127-135

Late Roman catapults
D.E. Chevedden, Artillery in Late Antiquity; in: Corfis and Wolfe (ed.), The medieval city under siege
(Woodbridge 1995) 131-173. See also Marsden 1969 and 1971; Baatz 1994.

Mediaeval torsion catapults
B. Rathgen, Das Gesch�tz im Mittelalter (Berlin 1928) 578-609
V. Schmidtchen, Mittelalterliche Kriegsmaschinen (Soest 1983)

� D. Baatz, D-65510 Idstein, Germany

Frequently Asked Questions

Answer:  Here is a list of websites where we have posted plans. These URLs are subpages for web pages that actually have the plans to reduce your hunt to a minimum. My own website here is CHOCK FULL of diagrams of ALL siege engines that were mass-produced in ancient times.

http://198.144.2.125/Siege/Blueprints.htm
http://198.144.2.125/Siege/ConstructionPics.htm
http://www.schamp.net/andy/index2.htm
http://www.unc.edu/courses/rometech/public/content/special/Kat_Smith/ROMANARTILLERY.htm
http://www.middelaldercentret.dk/acta.html
http://members.iinet.net.au/~rmine/seemore.html#plans

2) Question:  How much will it cost me? 

Answer:  Approximately $4000.00 to $60,000.00 (depending on size) for a real, full sized catapult for materials and some contracted labor. You choose the price level based on the size and level of complexity of the catapult.  Working models cost far less.  For example. a small 11" model ballista can be made for less than $30.00 if one already has the shop tools.  A small model trebuchet can be made from soft, pinewood for about $20.00.

3) Question: I want to make a catapult for a school project that throws ridiculous things for short distances and it has to fit in a 1 cubic meter space. Where do I go for plans? 

Answer:  I usually send this guy to Andy's web page where he has a few plans on small model catapults:

Realm of Taergerasmob (Thingymabob) - http://www.schamp.net/andy/index2.htm
or send him to Peter Ireland's web site at http://icatapults.freeservers.com/ where he can build a table top toy from popsicle sticks. 

4) Question:  I want your plans. Can you e-mail them to me as soon as possible? 

Answer:  No.   Hell No.   PERIOD. (I hate lazy idiots)  Please do your own research. Start by gathering as much information as your can from multiple sources, including this website, and fill in the gaps by THINKING.  You have to develop plans on your own just like the rest of us.  The diagrams supplied by Marsden and posted on this website should help.  Study them!  The plans of my own siege engine (a ballista) have been released only to a few engineers planning to make a full sized replica of their own.  These same plans will be later published in a book entitled "Build Your Own Greek Siege Engine".  See the next question for how you SHOULD ask for assistance.

5) Question:  I have a specific question regarding a construction feature or the performance of a catapult project I am considering or am in the process of building. Who can I E-mail to seek out the answers? 

Answer:  Such a question demonstrates that the questioner is trying to solve mechanical problems on his own and may be asking how another siege engine builder overcame a certain problem or constructed a certain feature on his catapult.  E-mail  the following catapult replica builders for detailed information pertaining to specific questions regarding construction or performance of siege engines.  DO NOT bother these guys with pleas for information if you refuse to somehow demonstrate in your message that you are willing to do some research and actual THINKING on your own!  A complete "read and make" recipe for making a siege engine does not exist!  

BALLISTAS: ksuleski@isd.net

TREBUCHETS: rmine@iinet.net.au or dimona@home.com or andy@schamp.net

ONAGERS: onager@mindspring.com  or ksuleski@isd.net

CATAPULTAS: noelkavan@hotmail.com or ksuleski@isd.net 

If I have failed to mention any of the craftsmen I know, I am sorry.  I had to write this in a hurry. Please add yourself to this list by E-mailing me if you have experience in building any of these machines.  I want to hear from you in any event because I love to talk  to other craftsmen!

6) Question:  Where can I find books or articles on siege engines? 

Answer:  Here are three links listing documentation sources.  Also, look into the links below.
http://198.144.2.125/Siege/Sources.htm

http://198.144.2.125/Siege/siege.htm

http://198.144.2.125/Siege/Archaeologica/Archaeologica.htm

Siege Engine Links

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