What did the Greeks call the crossbow, ballista, or a torsion siege engine?

The Greek Term for Crossbow: Gastraphetes

Gastraphetes is the term used by the ancient Greeks to refer to a crossbow, ballista, or a torsion siege engine. This ancient weapon was a type of handheld crossbow that was described by ancient historian Heron of Alexandria as early as the 1st century AD.

The Gastraphetes was a powerful weapon that utilized a torsion mechanism to store energy and propel projectiles. It was operated by loading a bolt into the groove at the front of the bow and then pulling back a lever that would draw back the bowstring. When released, the bowstring would snap forward, launching the bolt with great force towards the target.

This type of crossbow was favored by the ancient Greeks for its power and accuracy in long-distance shooting. It was used both in military campaigns and in siege warfare, where its ability to launch projectiles at a high velocity made it an effective weapon for attacking fortified positions.

Overall, the Gastraphetes played a significant role in ancient Greek warfare, demonstrating the ingenuity and innovation of ancient engineering in developing advanced weapons systems.