Cheiroballistra

The cheiroballistra (Greek) or manuballista (Latin), which translates in all its forms to 'hand ballista', was a late Roman siege engine. Designed by Hero of Alexandria and mostly composed of metal (the spring mechanism and the skeins), it shot bolts that were smaller than those in other forms of ballistae and generally made of metal. It was the next major improvement after the scorpio.^[1]

The name of the weapon is composed of the Greek words for 'hand' and 'shooter' implying that portable versions might also have existed, similar to crossbows.

References

↑ Warry, J. (1995). Warfare in the Classical World. P. 178 Salamander Books Ltd., London: United Kingdom. ISBN 0-8061-2794-5.

External links

Article on ballista (shown), scorpio and cheiroballistra
Reconstructing the cheiroballistra (archive)
Drawing (archive)
Greco-Roman artillery

Ancient mechanical artillery and hand-held missile weapons

Generic phrases	Greek and Roman artillery Ballista Catapult Torsion siege engine

Crew-served arrow-shooters	Carroballista Catapulta Oxybeles Polybolos Scorpio

Crew-served stone-projectors	Lithobolos Onager

Hand-held weapons	Cheiroballistra Crossbow Gastraphetes

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