SoA Forum

History => Ancient and Medieval History => Weapons and Tactics => Topic started by: Adrian Nayler on Apr 26, 2026, 06:52 PM

Title: The Use of Polybolos (multiple shot repeating bolt shooter)
Post by: Adrian Nayler on Apr 26, 2026, 06:52 PM
Rossi, A., Bertacchi, S. and Casadei, V. (2026) 'From Pompeii to Rhodes, from Survey to Sources: The Use of Polybolos,' Heritage, Vol. 9, No. 3, p. 96.

This new open access article considers whether impact marks on the walls of Pompeii dating from the Sullan siege in 89 BCE may represent indirect evidence of the as yet archaeologically unattested polybolos – a multiple shot repeating bolt shooter described by Philo of Byzantium in the 3rd century BCE.

You can find it here: https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage9030096
Title: Re: The Use of Polybolos (multiple shot repeating bolt shooter)
Post by: Nick Harbud on Apr 27, 2026, 07:12 AM
Whoever would have guessed that Legolas would turn up in Pompeii...  :P
Title: Re: The Use of Polybolos (multiple shot repeating bolt shooter)
Post by: Duncan Head on Apr 27, 2026, 11:09 AM
Looks interesting, Adrian, thanks.
Title: Re: The Use of Polybolos (multiple shot repeating bolt shooter)
Post by: Ian61 on Apr 27, 2026, 01:00 PM
Interesting article. Most Army lists a very restrictive of their use but they clearly had their place.