Pompeii Under Siege: Ancient Roman 'Machine Gun' Unearthed

Top Summary

• What happened: Researchers discovered evidence suggesting Romans used a repeating catapult, called a polybolos, during the siege of Pompeii in 89 BC.
• Why it matters: The discovery sheds light on the advanced military technology employed by the Romans and their tactics during sieges.
• What changes for people: Provides new insights into the history of Pompeii and Roman military strategies.
• Who is affected: Historians, archaeologists, and anyone interested in ancient Roman history.

Ancient 'Machine Gun' Found at Pompeii

Italian academics have identified what they describe as an “ancient machine gun” used by Roman forces attacking Pompeii over 2,000 years ago.

The weapon, a Greek-designed polybolos, was capable of firing metal-tipped projectiles in rapid succession.

Researchers from the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli and the University of Bologna made the discovery.

Evidence in the Walls

The team focused on distinctive circular craters in Pompeii’s northern defensive walls, which miraculously survived Roman rebuilding, World War II bombing, and natural disasters.

Adriana Rossi, Silvia Bertacchi, and Veronica Casadei led the research, publishing their findings in Heritage magazine after five years of engineering analysis.

Digital surveying techniques helped create 3D models of the wall damage.

Reverse Engineering the Siege

By comparing the damage patterns to known mechanics of ancient artillery, researchers concluded that a high-velocity weapon caused the damage.

The impact effectively pulverized stone.

"The artillery deployed during the assault was primarily intended for anti-personnel purposes, targeting defenders positioned along the ramparts and between the merlons, rather than to demolish the fortifications themselves,"

the researchers wrote.

 

Iron-tipped darts found at other Roman military sites matched the specifications identified in the wall damage, providing further evidence.

Pompeii's Turning Point

The siege, led by Roman general Lucius Cornelius Sulla, marked a turning point for Pompeii.

Sulla forced the city's surrender by cutting off supply lines and starving the population.

Pompeii was subsequently absorbed into the Roman Empire, undergoing political and legal transformations.

Roman Military Might

Roman armies were known for their sophisticated siege weaponry.

The ballista, originally developed by the Greeks, was a powerful torsion-driven weapon refined by the Romans.

It could fire bolts or stones with pinpoint accuracy over distances of more than 500 yards.

What to Watch Next

With around a third of Pompeii still buried, researchers anticipate further discoveries related to the polybolos. Future excavations could unearth more artifacts and insights into the Roman siege tactics used in 89 BC.