Harpax
The harpax or harpago was a Roman ballista that was used for boarding ships. Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa used the weapon for the first time and successfully against the fleet of Sextus Pompeius in the naval battle of Naulochoi .
functionality
The Harpax was designed as a harpoon with which Enterdregge could be fired at enemy ships over long distances . The harpoon was about five cubits long, at its end there were several barbs that were supposed to get caught in the superstructure of the opposing ship. This could then be pulled to the own ship with the help of a winch at the foot of the ballista. The shaft of the hook was made of iron to prevent the enemy crew from quickly cutting the boarding rope.
In the Battle of Naulochoi Pompey, who had relied on the advantage of his agile ships over the large, less maneuverable warships of Agrippa, was surprised by the use of this weapon. With the help of the Harpax, Agrippa succeeded in boarding more than half of the opponent's 300 ships and destroying Pompey.
Individual evidence
- ^ John V. Southworth: The Ancient Fleets: The Story of Naval Warfare Under Oars, 2600 BC - 1597 AD Twayne Inc, New York 1968. Print.
- ^ William M. Murray, Philip de Souza, HT Wallinga: "Ancient Navies." The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History. Ed. John B. Hattendorf. Oxford University Press, 2007.