In this article, we will discuss seven unique ancient weapons that predated Medieval weaponry and were very ambitious for their time. However, some of the ancient designs proved extremely innovative and highly effective. The continued use of these weapons in this period of history can be justified by the slow development of science, which was far more primitive than we know it today or even in comparison to Medieval Ages. These were often created by some of history’s most famous inventors such as Archimedes. The evolution of these ancient weapons did not change drastically, and many combined known weapon forms to create new hybrids. Most of them had either sharp edges for cutting, sharp points for thrusting, or heavy heads for crushing.īattle scene between hoplites and Persian Warriors from a black-figure lekythos, 490 BC, in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens Many ancient weapons utilized familiar designs including swords, spears, axes, hammers, or bows. Ancient societies also turned out brilliant and often strange weapon conceptions that were considered very advanced, and some of their basic designs are still used today. “Futuristic” designs and technical innovation are not just limited to our modern-day technologies. Painted by Giulio Parigi (1571-1635) in the years 1599-1600.Įnlarged image: 265 kilobytes, 1647 x 1325 pixels.Illustration of Greek fire against Thomas the Slav from the Codex Skylitzes Matritensis, 12th century, in the National Library of Madrid, via Royal Museums Greenwich, London It is a detail of a wall painting in the Stanzino delle Matematiche in the Galleria degli Uffizi (Florence, Italy). Source: A History of the Machine by Sigvard Strandh, A&W Publishers, Inc., New York, 1979.Įnlarged image: 99 kilobytes, 640 x 402 pixels.Ī depiction that takes the nomenclature "iron hand" in the ancient sources quite literally. The artist admits that it is pure speculation. Large size: 258 kilobytes, 1483 x 916 pixels.Ī very imaginative version of the claw as an underwater "ship shaker". Medium size: 137 kilobytes, 640 x 395 pixels. Notice the use of counterweights in the three levers depicted.Įnlarged image: 121 kilobytes, 640 x 405 pixels, 256 grayscales.Ī Picturesque Tale of Progress by Olive Beaupre Miller, The Book House for Children, 1935, (Illustration by Donn P. Large size: 284 kilobytes, 1398 x 1089 pixels.ĭetail of an engraving depicting the siege of Syracuse. Medium size: 104 kilobytes, 616 x 480 pixels. Lazos, Aiolos Publishers, Athens, 1995 (in Greek). of Chippenham UK - specialists in oak-framed construction, conservation and timber engineering.Įnlarged Animations (699 x 557 pixels, black & white, 39 frames, 19 seconds):Īn illustration of a rather elaborate claw from the following book:Īrchimedes: The Ingenious Engineer by Christos D. Created by Duncan Ellis, an architect associated with Carpenter Oak & Woodland Co. (A carchesion is a kind of swivel or universal joint.)Īn animation depicting the claw as a trebuchet. Large size: 31 kilobytes, 2040 x 1530 pixels, black & white. Medium size: 31 kilobytes, 640 x 480 pixels, 256 grayscales. Landels, University of California Press, Berkeley & Los Angeles, 1978. A N I M A T I O N SĪn animated image built from three illustrations of a claw from the following book:Īncient Inventions by Peter James and Nick Thorpe, Ballantine Books, New York, 1994.Įnlarged Animations (480 x 294 pixels, black & white, 9 frames, 8 seconds):Įngineering in the Ancient World by J.
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