A catapulta was a Roman machine for throwing

arrow An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers c ...

s and

javelin A javelin is a light spear designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon, but today predominantly for sport. The javelin is almost always thrown by hand, unlike the sling, bow, and crossbow, which launch projectiles with th ...

s, or 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.

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Greek and Roman artillery The Greeks and Romans both made extensive use of artillery for shooting large arrows, bolts or spherical stones or metal balls. Occasionally they also used ranged early thermal weapons. There was heavy siege artillery, but more mobile and lighter f ...

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Legion XXIV Catapulta
Features a detailed working reconstruction of a three-man catapulta. Ancient Greek artillery Roman artillery Roman siege engines Marksmanship Arrow types {{artillery-stub

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