As an example, archers, with the advantage of being stationed on high towers and battlements, would be well able to shoot arrows from 270 to 280 yards. For this reason it was necessary for the safe manipulation of the attacking engines that they should be placed at about 300 yards from the outer walls of any fortress they were assailing. As a catapult or a balista was required not only to cast its missile among the soldiers on the ramparts of a fortified place, but also to send it clear over the walls amid the houses and people within the defences, it is evident that the engines must have had a range of from 400 to 500 yards, or more, to be as serviceable and destructive as they undoubtedly were. [Page 9] Josephus tells us that at the siege of Jerusalem, A.D. 70 (‘Wars of the Jews,’ Book V. Chapter VI.), stones weighing a talent (57¾ lbs. avoirdupois) were thrown by the catapults to a distance of two or more ‘stades.’ This statement may be taken as trustworthy, for Josephus relates what he personally witnessed and his comments are those of a commander of high rank and intelligence. [Illustration: FIG. 3.--A FORTIFIED TOWN BEING BOMBARDED BY A CATAPULT. _Criticism._--The stones thrown by the besieged may be seen falling in the trenches of the besiegers. The catapult depicted is drawn on much too small a scale. _From Polybius. Edition 1727._] Two or more ‘stades,’ or let us say 2 to 2¼ ‘stades,’ represent 400 to 450 yards. Remarkable and conclusive testimony confirming the truth of what we read in Josephus is the fact that my largest catapult--though doubtless much smaller and less powerful than those referred to by the historian--throws a stone ball of 8 lbs. in weight to a range of from 450 to nearly 500 yards. It is easy to realise that the ancients, with their great and perfect engines fitted with skeins of sinew, could cast a far heavier stone than one of 8 lbs., and to a longer distance than 500 yards. [Page 10] Agesistratus,[3] a Greek writer who flourished B.C. 200, and who wrote a treatise on making arms for war, estimated that some of the engines shot from 3½ to 4 ‘stades’ (700 to 800 yards). [3] The writings of Agesistratus are non-extant but are quoted by Athenæus. Though such a very long flight as this appears almost incredible, I can adduce no sound reason for doubting its possibility. From recent experiments I am confident I could now build an engine of a size and power to accomplish such a feat if light missiles were used, and if its cost were not a consideration. [Illustration: FIG. 4.--A SIEGE CATAPULT (WITHOUT A SLING). _From Polybius. Edition 1727._] [Page 11] PART II _THE CATAPULT (WITH A SLING)_ [Illustration: FIG. 5.--A SIEGE CATAPULT (WITHOUT A SLING).