Gastraphetes

[soibean]

I was watching an episode of Deadliest Warrior: Alexander the Great vs. Attila the Hun and they presented this proto-crossbow. Was it as effective as they made out? Was it continued to be used?

[vartan]

I was watching an episode of Deadliest Warrior: Alexander the Great vs. Attila the Hun and they presented this proto-crossbow. Was it as effective as they made out? Was it continued to be used?

I don't watch this show. Could you please roughly and briefly restate what was claimed of this "proto-crossbow" you speak of? that is, what did the show state with regards to its capabilities? Thanks soibean.

[tujo33]

I watched that episode too. It was a crossbow that was pulled into the stomach then fired from that position. "Belly-Bow". I've been trying to read up on it but it seems like an invention that wasn't used as much as what "The Deadliest Warrior" portrayed it. I could be wrong though.

[Cute Wolf]

you could see that unit in XGM, the greek crossbowmen, recruitable from syrakousai if you are not the GCS faction (GCS could recruit them everywhere).

I'm not sure if my XGM folder was modded or somewhat, but it was really nasty missile unit with bp (yes, body piercing!) missiles.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Is this the episode he saw?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyGmwczXAWA

[anubis88]

Is this the episode he saw?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyGmwczXAWA

This looks like Monthy Python. Jesus Christ that sucked

[jabarto]

This looks like Monthy Python. Jesus Christ that sucked

It sucks even more once you realize that they spent a quarter of the show detailing Alexander's hand-to-hand skill only to have him act like an overgrown infant the moment he drops his sword. This show is never exactly high class but this is one of the worst episodes they've ever done.

[tujo33]

That's what I found so dumb about this episode. They talk up his the hellenes hand to hand for an hour then he loses in hand to hand combat.

[paleologos]

If you guys are done "burying" the stupid show, can any of you post anything about the gastraphetes?

[Megas Methuselah]

If you guys are done "burying" the stupid show, can any of you post anything about the gastraphetes?

Do a forum search for belly-bows or something. This topic has came up plenty of times in the past years. It was generally accepted as a weapon that was very rarely used, except in sieges; due to the scarce use of this weapon, it wasn't introduced to the EB unit roster.

[paleologos]

Do a forum search for belly-bows or something. This topic has came up plenty of times in the past years. It was generally accepted as a weapon that was very rarely used, except in sieges; due to the scarce use of this weapon, it wasn't introduced to the EB unit roster.

I'm covered, thanks.

[vartan]

If that show someone linked to is anything near accurate, it looks like that crossbow isn't good for much and regular bows would've been more practical to use...at least when juxtaposed like that with the Hunnic bow.

[mountaingoat]

lol @ that show .. just reading the youtube comments ... the other two soldiers seemed to of "vanished" from the "simulation" ??

[Badass Buddha]

If that show someone linked to is anything near accurate, it looks like that crossbow isn't good for much and regular bows would've been more practical to use...at least when juxtaposed like that with the Hunnic bow.

Against the Huns, a crossbow would have been worthless. The load time is longer and the range is less then the normal bows used, which were already vastly inferior to the Hunnic compound bows. The only reason to use crossbows outside of a siege situation is for its armor piercing ability, and because the majority of Huns wore little to no armor, this is rendered moot. Also, the compound bow was armor piercing. So yeah, the regular bow would have been more useful, but not much more, and you'd still lose.

[Fluvius Camillus]

lol @ that show .. just reading the youtube comments ... the other two soldiers seemed to of "vanished" from the "simulation" ??

I wondered that too! It was a 3vs3. The first Hunnic soldier gets killed by the ballista, then the rivals go forward. A Hellene soldier gets killed by a bow while loading his Gastraphetes, the other Hellene one runs somewhere out of the screen. The other Hunnic one gets killed by the Xyston charge, then Alexander and Atilla start fighting and we all know the end.

Indeed this was quite a crappy episode...

~Fluvius

[Rahwana]

LOL, Alexander rushing bullhead without any weapons

maybe his gay inner self was shown too much in that episode, trying to open Attila's pants

[antisocialmunky]

That's probably uncalled for.

But its just a crossbow with a funny name.

[mountaingoat]

always remember to lead the charge with an xbow .. and make sure you stop and reload in the open , with another soldier looking at you and holding a bow.

[Klearchos]

Wise advice mountaingoat.
Also: Make sure that you fall to the ground without getting hit by the enemie's arrow.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Wise advice mountaingoat.
Also: Make sure that you fall to the ground without getting hit by the enemie's arrow.

Also: Stay down and watch your general die.

[Zradha Pahlavan]

I can't believe you guys would insult Monty Python by comparing it to that. Ug.

RE The weapon. The thing just looks like a poorly designed crossbow with a difficult method of reloading. If I remember correctly it was used in Syracuse, possibly against Carthaginian invaders, but not much elsewhere.

[Dutchhoplite]

O, that looks terrible :)

And that looks like a horrible small Gastraphetes...

Some moving stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlxU6FUlNZU

[Lvcretivs]

O, that looks terrible :)

I absolutely agree - this video really merits a 'watch - and die of laughter' warning :)

Concerning the weapon both Wikipedia and RomanArmyTalk provide rather useful information and further reading.

[Intranetusa]

The gastraphetes was a relatively bulky, inefficient, and poorly designed crossbow. It was created by the Greeks, and later used by the Romans (mainly for hunting I think). It was not produced in significant quantities, and I don't think they used it very much in combat/on the battlefield either...

[vartan]

The gastraphetes was a relatively bulky, inefficient, and poorly designed crossbow. It was created by the Greeks, and later used by the Romans (mainly for hunting I think). It was not produced in significant quantities, and I don't think they used it very much in combat/on the battlefield either...

Yeah. I think that's what Wiki said, right?

[Paltmull]

Kind of OT but: HAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!

You sure this isn't a comedy show? :P