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A catapulta was a Roman machine for throwing arrows and javelins,[1][2] 12 feet (3.7 m) or 15 feet (4.6 m) long, at the enemy. The name comes from the Greek katapeltes (καταπέλτης), because it could pierce or 'go through' (kata) shields (peltas). The design was probably inherited, along with the ballista, from Greek armies. Some versions of the catapulta were portable. Smaller two-armed versions of the catapulta were known as scorpiones.[3][4] The catapulta was made of wood and were placed on stands.[5]
- ^ Pitassi, Michael (2010). The Navies of Rome. Boydell & Brewer. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-84383-600-1.
- ^ Catapult Design, Construction and Competition with the Projectile Throwing Engines of the Ancients. RLT Industries. 2006. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-9776497-0-9.
- ^ Adkins, Lesley; Adkins, Roy A.; Adkins, Both Professional Archaeologists Roy A. (2014-05-14). Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome. Infobase Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-8160-7482-2.
- ^ Southern, Pat (2007-10-01). The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History. Oxford University Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-0-19-804401-7.
- ^ Corbishley, Mike (2004). Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ancient Rome. Getty Publications. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-89236-705-4.