Customer Reviews

Greek and Roman Artillery 399 BC-AD 363 (New Vanguard)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I build models of seige engines as a hobby, and this book is a valuable addition to my library. It specifically deals with the ballista, a crossbow-like weapon, and does so in good detail. The drawings are detailed and carefully done, and the photos and descriptions are more than adequate for a talented reconstructor to make scale models from tabletop sized to full sized. It is well worth adding to your library if you have an interest in Greek and Roman warfare and engineering.

This book provides a fairly good overview (forr star)of the mechanics and engineering behind Greek and Roman artillery of this period. Torsion, build, range, power, building material, etc. are all discussed well. However, the book provide a limited discussion of the actual military importance of the weapons, their utilization, performance in battle and development over the time period. Hence is of far less use or interest to the student of military history. Nevertheless, the book is very well illustrated. If one is interested in finding something to use as an illustrator or model builder of this this subject the book provides a very good introduction, especially considering the fact it is only 48 pages.

If you are interested on the mechanics or how to build one of these artillery pieces this book is for you. Its quite well explained.

It also has some nice pictures.

If you want to know like I did, how they were used or how effective they were, you will find very little unfortunately here.