Gastraphetes (belly bow)
Gastraphetes (ballesta de vientre)
- Date
- c. 399 BCE · confidence low
- Place
- Syracuse, Sicily, Italy
- Credited to
- Greek craftsmen in the service of Dionysius I of Syracuse
- Field
- Conflict
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
A large bow mounted on a stock with a slider and trigger, spanned by resting the shooter's belly against a curved rest and pushing. It is the first mechanical projectile weapon of the Greek world and predates torsion catapults.
The main source is Hero of Alexandria (1st century AD), who cites Zopyros of Tarentum; the date is tied to Dionysius I's workshops (399 BC), and whether the Chinese crossbow is independent is debated.
What it led to
- tension and torsion catapults
- stirrup and windlass crossbows
- Hellenistic siege artillery