Anmerkungen zum Problem der Geschossgewichte für Ballisten aus Vitruvs De architectura 10,11,3

Abstract

The article deals with a number of problems in Vitruvius’ De architectura 10,10-16, with particular emphasis on the overview of the projectile weights of Roman ballistae in 10,11,3. It is argued that Vitruvius used a published Greek text and not a lecture transcript from his training days as architect. This text is either an unknown work on Artillery construction („Belopoiika”) or the lost work of an Agesistratus. When translating the information in 10,11,3, Vitruvius made a serious conversion error by translating the projectile weights of Greek mines into Roman pounds with a factor of 1:2 instead of 1:1.33 period. This error was first recognised in 1975 by OTTO LENDLE, but his contribution was not taken into account so far.