Hail Caesar Roman Caesarian Roman Ballista

The Caesarian Roman ballista was a formidable piece of artillery used during Julius Caesar's military campaigns, particularly in the Gallic Wars and the Roman Civil War. A type of ancient siege engine, the ballista was essentially a large crossbow that fired projectiles such as bolts or stones with great force and accuracy. Its design, based on torsion power, involved twisted skeins of animal sinew or hair that provided the necessary tension to launch the projectiles.

Marching to war, the legions would not be without their support. Loaded with bolts or stone 'shot' the ballista was a highly accurate weapon (there are many accounts right from its early history of single soldiers being picked off by the operators).