Full-size Roman siege catapult for sale on eBay
eBay may be the place that most people find their next computer, summer dress or favorite gadget, but wannabe siege barons can now find something of interest there too – a full-size Roman war machine, or “ballista”.
The ballista is a faithful recreation, built in 2002 for the BBC “Building the Impossible”. It was built by a team of experts and fired – to prove that the Roman’s written account of their siege methods (there are no surviving drawings) are accurate. The successful firing sent a stone ball 115 meters, but did damage the war machine in doing so.
Built by expert timber framers from Carpenter Oak & Woodland, the ballista has since lain, disassembled, in the company’s Scotland timber yard. It has now been decided that it should have a new home, so the company is selling it on eBay.
Although it requires some restoration – it can be restored as a demonstration piece rather than as a fireable weapon – Carpenter Oak & Woodland is also offering to restore, deliver and reassemble the completed war machine to any location in the United Kingdom.
Andy Parker, commercial director of Carpenter Oak & Woodland, wants it to go to a good home. “We have built three different war machines – and one of these, a trebuchet, resides now at Warwick Castle and is fired every day. It has attracted tens of thousands of tourists. So it would be ideal for many English castles or recreation venues. Of course, someone may want to use it to lay siege to a neighbour’s castle, though of course it isn’t a fireable weapon – even if it were, it would need around half a dozen skilled operators in order to do it, and all of those have been dead for 2000 years.”
The ballista is 7.5 meters tall, it is 8.5 meters long and weighs 12 tons. “Clearly, this isn’t something that we’re going to send by post or courier, and unless you have a big team of lifters and a massive articulated truck then you won’t get it very far. That’s why we are also offering restoration, delivery and assembly.”
The war machine has gone on sale on eBay and will be listed for 10 days. You can see a video of the ballista being built at www.carpenteroakandwoodland.com/ballista.
The ballista almost completed and ready for the first firing (Photo: Business Wire)