catapult

ancient weapon

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Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

A catapult is a military weapon used to launch projectiles like stones or spears. Ancient Greeks and Romans used weapons like the ballista for shooting arrows and stones. More commonly, "catapult" refers to a larger engine with a long arm that swings to hurl stones. These engines, along with others like the trebuchet, operated by releasing tension from bent beams or twisted cords. The trebuchet, powered by gravity, used a long arm with a counterweight to launch much heavier projectiles farther than earlier catapults. While effective in ancient and medieval warfare, catapults were eventually superseded by gunpowder artillery. Modern catapults are also used to launch aircraft and missiles.12

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catapult
The term catapult too can refer to these weapons, but more often it designates a larger engine that is used to hurl stones from a single long arm swinging through the vertical plane. Nearly all catapults employed in ancient and medieval artillery operated by a sudden release…
Read More
The term catapult too can refer to these weapons, but more often it designates a larger engine that is used to hurl stones from a single long arm swinging through the vertical plane. Nearly all catapults employed in ancient and medieval artillery operated by a sudden release…
Read More