telophase | (no subject)

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i want a ballista

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Just watched Ancient Death Machines on the History Channel's Ancient Discoveries series. They did some experimenting on creating Greek fire grenades and a flamethrower that would shoot Greek fire a great distance. It was quite impressive. :) They also tested a model of a Chinese mine, a scythed chariot, and the most impressive-looking siege engine of all - which means it really wasn't that effective in practice because it was too big to move quickly - the Helepolis.

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Ooh, does that mean there's some sort of consensus on what Greek fire really *was* in the first place? I've seen various ingredient lists that seemed to pretty well agree on what it was made *from*, but the process by which it was made (and thus how hot it burned, how thick and gooey it was, how well it stuck to things, etc.) was still a mystery (at least when I was looking into it 10-20 years ago using sources that were of necessity older than that).

Well, what I gathered from the TV show was that it had to be thin enough to be sprayed through the air from the flamethrower-type machine - too thick, and it'd clog the works. That doesn't, of course, rule out different formulations for different uses - the hand-thrown clay grenades vs. the pumped flamethrower.

And since they actually made some and tested it, I suspect they're not far off, at least for the flamethrower - it had a good 20-25 feet on it. The grenade was pretty impressive too, whether it was accurate or not. If I were on the front lines of battle and the Byzantine infantry came thundering down on me throwing these things, I'd freak the hell out. :D

Oh, sure. It was quite effective in terms of destruction and lethality (especially in naval combat...during an era of wooden ships...), but its real value was as a terror weapon.

I mean, it's basically napalm. *shudder*

Man, times like this I wish I had a TV...*g*

I Tivoed it, my Tivo is set up to do transfers to my computer, and I have Magical Conversion Software that can turn it into other video formats. Something could be ... arranged. XD

*puppy eyes*

P.S. Wolfwood arrived yesterday. Thank you!

:D I shall See What I Can Do. (Without a definite ETA, as I seem to be lousy as hell at that.)

P.S. Yaay! :D

*\o/* I'm not in any hurry, myself. =^) Thank you!

I wouldn't mind a copy either. And indefinite delivery time is fine with me.

Please?

I shall endeavor to remember. XD

That sounds so cool. Does History Chanel over DVDs? I'd buy them out so darn fast.

Yup! (http://store.aetv.com/html/subject/index.jhtml?id=anc1009&parentcatid=anc1009)

I am very tempted by Ancient Chinese Super Ships. And Ancient Ballistics.

*swoons*

*swoons again*

Well, my birthday is coming up. I'm trying to convince people I deeply need 32 presents (and one to grow on) so maybe I will get lots. *grin*

Tell everyone it's a gift registry. XD I think I shall merely rely on ILL for ones I can't get the TiVo to catch.

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