The Ballista

The ballista is an ancient Greek and Roman military weapon resembling a giant crossbow. It used large torsion springs made of twisted rope or sinew to store energy, allowing it to shoot heavy projectiles like stones or darts over long distances with significant force. Operated by a team, it was mounted on wheels for mobility and utilized for siege warfare or battlefield combat, effectively breaking down walls or targeting enemy formations. Its design combined engineering ingenuity with tactical effectiveness, making it one of the most powerful missile weapons of the ancient world.