ON THE MAKING OF ARTILLERY

BY HERON OF ALEXANDRIA

PAGE 7

English Translation from Latin	English Translation from Greek
...which is at N O P, it surpasses the "tortoise" Chelonium: a protective socket or "shell" housing the trigger mechanism in the top surface of the upper ruler. They called the "finger" N O P the chira original: chira; from the Greek cheir, that is, the hand. The mentioned openings they called catochas original: catochas, that is, retainers. They called the small ruler Q R the schasteria Schasteria: the trigger-catch or release-lever. The ruler χ ζ v s they called the catagogis Catagogis: the "pull-down" bar or handle used for cocking the weapon. Finally, they called the extremities of the bow A D and C B the anconas original: anconas, that is, the arms.	* retainers ...[che]lonion, for it is also higher than those parts upon the rulers. They called the finger x o the hand. And the mentioned openings original: somalia [they called] retainers marginal note: katochas. And the small ruler p r [they called] the release-bar. And the ruler u ph ch [they called] the pull-down bar. And the extremities of the bow a b c d [they called] "elbows" original: ankonas.

English Translation from Latin

English Translation from Greek

...which is at N O P, it surpasses the "tortoise" Chelonium: a protective socket or "shell" housing the trigger mechanism in the top surface of the upper ruler. They called the "finger" N O P the chira original: chira; from the Greek cheir, that is, the hand. The mentioned openings they called catochas original: catochas, that is, retainers. They called the small ruler Q R the schasteria Schasteria: the trigger-catch or release-lever. The ruler χ ζ v s they called the catagogis Catagogis: the "pull-down" bar or handle used for cocking the weapon. Finally, they called the extremities of the bow A D and C B the anconas original: anconas, that is, the arms.

* retainers ...[che]lonion, for it is also higher than those parts upon the rulers. They called the finger x o the hand. And the mentioned openings original: somalia [they called] retainers marginal note: katochas. And the small ruler p r [they called] the release-bar. And the ruler u ph ch [they called] the pull-down bar. And the extremities of the bow a b c d [they called] "elbows" original: ankonas.

A diagram here illustrates the gastraphetes. It shows the central sliding beam (diostra) labeled with Greek and Latin letters, the bow arms (anconas) at the front, and the "belly" rest at the rear where the soldier would apply pressure.

English Translation from Latin	English Translation from Greek
These things being so arranged, those wishing to load the weapon would push the diostra Diostra: the sliding inner beam of the catapult that carries the bolt toward the parts k, until the "hand," looking upward, passed beyond the bowstring. It is indeed on the top surface of the diostra. After this, with the "hand" tilted back, they placed the schasteria the release-catch beneath it, so that it could not be raised again. This being done, the furthest part of the diostra which had been pushed outward was moved against some wall or the ground; then, gripping with their hands the ends of the catagogis χ, ζ, they moved the "belly" the curved rear rest toward the cavity, and all...	This construction having been completed, if they wished to set the bow, they brought up the diostra toward the parts at k, until the hand, tilting backward, passed over the bowstring. It is located above the diostra. Then, having inclined it, they placed the schasteria underneath, so that the hand was no longer able to tilt back. After this, the end of the diostra having been pushed toward the outside, they braced it against a wall or the ground, and holding the ends u ph ch ps of the catagogis, they pressed the "belly" original: gastera; this is the namesake of the "belly-bow" or gastraphetes...

English Translation from Latin

English Translation from Greek

These things being so arranged, those wishing to load the weapon would push the diostra Diostra: the sliding inner beam of the catapult that carries the bolt toward the parts k, until the "hand," looking upward, passed beyond the bowstring. It is indeed on the top surface of the diostra. After this, with the "hand" tilted back, they placed the schasteria the release-catch beneath it, so that it could not be raised again. This being done, the furthest part of the diostra which had been pushed outward was moved against some wall or the ground; then, gripping with their hands the ends of the catagogis χ, ζ, they moved the "belly" the curved rear rest toward the cavity, and all...

This construction having been completed, if they wished to set the bow, they brought up the diostra toward the parts at k, until the hand, tilting backward, passed over the bowstring. It is located above the diostra. Then, having inclined it, they placed the schasteria underneath, so that the hand was no longer able to tilt back. After this, the end of the diostra having been pushed toward the outside, they braced it against a wall or the ground, and holding the ends u ph ch ps of the catagogis, they pressed the "belly" original: gastera; this is the namesake of the "belly-bow" or gastraphetes...