ARCUBALLISTA
ARCUBALLISTA a crossbow, occurs first in Vegetius (
de
Re Mil. 2.15), but is probably identical with the
scorpiones minores of Livy (
26.47,
49), and the
σκορπιδία of Polybius (
8.7). The crossbowman is
arcuballistarius (Veget.
op. cit. 4.21).
The same writer speaks of a
manuballista as nearly
the same weapon (2.15), the Greek equivalent of which,
χειροβαλλίστρα, is described by the elder Heron in the first
of his existing fragments. Saglio, who gives two illustrations from
sculpture in the museum at Le Puy, well remarks that the name and the thing
have both come down substantially unaltered (Fr.
arbalète) from ancient times to modern.
[
W.W]
