Balista

A balista is an ancient missile weapon akin to a large crossbow, designed to launch projectiles such as darts or stones with great force. Used by civilizations like the Greeks and Romans, it operated by storing tension in high-stretch materials like twisted ropes or sinew. When released, the stored energy propelled the projectile swiftly towards targets, often in warfare or siege conditions. Essentially, it functioned as a powerful, mechanized bow that enabled armies to attack enemies from a distance with precision and force.