The Use of Polybolos (multiple shot repeating bolt shooter)

[Adrian Nayler]

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

[Nick Harbud]

Whoever would have guessed that Legolas would turn up in Pompeii... 

[Duncan Head]

Looks interesting, Adrian, thanks.

[Ian61]

Interesting article. Most Army lists a very restrictive of their use but they clearly had their place.