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February 09, 2004
Catapults
National Geographic runs a piece on ancient catapults claiming it is one of the few ancient technologies whose development, if not origins, we know in some detail. I like the hint at a relationship between politics and technical experts in the form of catapult engineers as an example of early technocratic governance. Unfortunately, this is not elaborated in much detail. I also like the pop-over polar bear ad...
The making of catapults, known as "belopoietics" (poietike meaning "making of"; belos meaning "projectile or projectile-throwing device") required an ingenious combination of geometry, physics, and technology. The fearsome machines terrorized battlefields and sieges until the proliferation of gunpowder. Their power was impressive and terrifying. Roman catapults could hurl 60-pound (27-kilogram) boulders some 500 feet (150 meters). Archimedes' machines were said to have been able to throw stones three times as heavy.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at February 9, 2004 06:02 AM