×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Tuesday
17
Feb 2026
weather symbol
Athens 12°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Culture

This Roman weapon of mass destruction is 2000 years old (video)

These ancient projectiles, once considered iron arrowheads, proved to be far deadlier upon closer inspection

Newsroom November 9 12:14

In the heart of northern Britain, a monumental structure once divided the land into two distinct territories. Emperor Hadrian commissioned its construction in 122 AD, and in just six years, Hadrian’s Wall, an imposing fortification, stretched from coast to coast. Eight thousand Roman soldiers stood guard, unwavering in their duty to protect the Empire’s northern frontier at any cost. Deep within the rugged terrain of southern Scotland, an archaeological discovery in 2015 unveiled a concealed battleground from two millennia ago. Iron Age Britons clashed with the formidable Roman Army, but it wasn’t swords and spears that defined their warfare. Buried beneath the earth lay a cache of ballistic weaponry, forgotten by history.

These artifacts showcased a different facet of Roman military might. These ancient projectiles, once considered iron arrowheads, proved to be far deadlier upon closer inspection. X-ray scans revealed their true nature – precision bolts designed to pierce through armor. These bolts, an ancient counterpart to modern assault rifles, were fired from a remarkable piece of tactical artillery, suspected to be the manuballista. The presence of these lethal bolt tips suggests that the manuballista played a pivotal role in the assault on Burnswark. Historians believe that such weaponry left little chance for the local Britons in the face of the Roman war machine.

See Also:

>Related articles

The great Byzantinologist Eleni Glykatzi-Arveler died at the age of 99

Warner Bros is considering re-entering talks with Paramount: What this means for Netflix

“Tehran” creator Dana Eden is the Israeli found dead in an Athens Hotel – “Murder claims are false”

Turkish parliament dumps Coke, Nestle from menus over alleged Israel support

Source: Ancient Origins

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#culture#history#military#Roman Empire#video#weapon
> More Culture

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Pierarakis: Eleni Glykatzi-Arveler was the most tangible proof of the power generated by dedication to knowledge

February 16, 2026

The execution of the 200 in Kaisariani by German occupation forces: The stories and relics of the fallen

February 16, 2026

St. Peter’s Basilica Square to fully open to the public, café to double in size, real-time booking system to be introduced

February 16, 2026

Over 70 non-governmental organisations oppose the European migration reform plan

February 16, 2026

The great Byzantinologist Eleni Glykatzi-Arveler died at the age of 99

February 16, 2026

Alexis Tsipras presents “Ithaki” in Larissa today

February 16, 2026

Greece–Turkey in “calm waters” until the elections, following the Mitsotakis–Erdogan meeting in Ankara

February 16, 2026

Kilauea Volcano erupted again: the lava jets reached 400 metres, see video

February 16, 2026
All News

> World

St. Peter’s Basilica Square to fully open to the public, café to double in size, real-time booking system to be introduced

These changes—whose implementation date has not yet been specified—are part of the initiatives marking this year the 400th anniversary of the inauguration of St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world and the global center of Catholicism

February 16, 2026

Over 70 non-governmental organisations oppose the European migration reform plan

February 16, 2026

Kilauea Volcano erupted again: the lava jets reached 400 metres, see video

February 16, 2026

Logan Paul sold a rare Pokemon card for the astronomical sum of $16.5 million

February 16, 2026

The Kremlin “categorically rejects” the finding on the murder of Navalny with poison

February 16, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα