The Roman Secret Weapon That Terrified Its Enemies #shorts

Whistling slingshot bullets are actually quite commonly discovered by archaeologists throughout europe. The technology is believed to be about 1800 years old.

Usually these were made from stone or a piece of lead that was carved or molded into an oval shape with a hole drilled into it and weighing upto 60grams.

These projectiles were used by slingshot carrying auxiliary troops that would fight alongside roman legions.

The effects of the bullets were two fold. Firstly they could fly as fast as 100mph meaning that if it found its target it would seriously injure or kill anyone that it was aimed at.

Secondly they would emit a high pitch whistle that would terrify the enemy.

They were small enough that you could fire up to four at a time and with possibly hundreds and thousands of troops firing at the same time it would have a detrimental and psychological effect on any enemy.

Archaeologists recently discovered thousands of these on Brunswick hill in southwest Scotland where it seems the Romans had used these to attack a Celtic stronghold.

[picklesenate]

Germany in the thirties: "write that down, write that down"

[IvoryHourglass]

The writting on the side was the best.

"Catch"
"Hello"
"Return"
And even lighting bolts carved on the side.

[deimos]

The irony is that the first photo shows a lead projectile much ancient than the Romans, which bears the ancient Greek word "ΔΕΞΑΙ" means in free translation "eat this".

[bud]

Imagine being an ancient Celtic warrior bred for war and the cold highlands. You spend your entire life training, have your sword handed down to you by your father, then when encountering your first foe, its some chucklefuck with a slingshot who one shotted you from 80 yard away.

[wyattmason]

I know an ancient nerf football when I see one

[ArcWelder]

When you flip the stone over its says "nutz"

[baddog]

I am a slinger.
It takes a lot longer to be ok with a sling, then a bow. As in years.
I've been a slinger for about 10 years now. And even I am not a grandmaster.
Here are some neat facts of slings.
# They can travel over 400 yards and go through 1/2 plywood. ( so kill at that distance.
# They can kill a grizzly bear.
...
Now I use a 1 lbs bullet. ( that's a lot if lead)
I learned how to make whislers. They are fun and psychological. ( sounds like artillery)
When I say it can go through 1/2 plywood. I speak of plywood not partial board. And at 400 yards its very hard to hit a 4x8 piece of plywood.
When I say it can kill a grizzly. I'm not joking. However. If you miss, that one bad mistake.
People often think of bullets penitration.
With a sling that is not how it kills.
Its the precustion. Or that blunt trauma.
You hit a grizzly with a sling bullet. It breaks the skull. Its not about going into the brain. Its about scrambled brains.
A lot of things. Its about crippling your prey.
A deer can not run away if you break its back, hips, or legs.
This is the same with most things.
I am not bold enough to try this with something, like a bear or cougar, that will attack
But I have done this with a cow.
Add to this. You would be a fool to hunt a grizzly with a sling. Unless it your only means. There is more of a chance of missing and making the bear mad.
And I've been slinging for 10 years.
So don't think you will just make a sling and hunt a bear.
The only thing I can promise you can hit in your first few months is the following ( and yes this happened to me)
Your truck windshield.
Truck door
Fender.
They were all behind me. Expensive learning curve.
I finally started practicing a mile away from my truck.
About that time. I stopped losing bullets behind me. But I still cringe around vehicals.
I've never cloaked the speed. But I feel 100mph is quite slow. I believe close to 300 would be correct.
I am self taught. And can not teach anyone how to do what I do.
Though one may learn by watching me. Idk.

[TexasSausage]

Romans applauding themselves for weapons ingenuity: 🥳
King David who been slangin’ for centuries: 🤨

[stevehilton]

My father was in the Atlantic convoy protection force and said he dreaded the sound of the stukka dive bombers that came down virtually and made a screaming sound that had a real effect on the sailors doing their he said they never knew that they had loudspeakers to increase the the best day of his tours at sea came when it was discovered that shining a very bright spot light directly at the cockpit would blind the pilot enough to misjudge the timing for the pull out of the dive making them crash into the
BTW during the Falklands campaign a harrier was flying on fumes and because of the intense fog couldn't find the ship ( the use of the powerful radar so close would be very bad for the people on someone had the idea of shining a spot light directly into the air and act like a beacon....it worked and saved the aircraft and possibly the pilot

[SanityVideo]

You know how David stuck a rock through Goliaths skull with one of these? Whether you believe the story or not, whoever wrote it probably saw it happen to someone.

[Fatherofheroesandheroines]

There was one found from the Punic Wars that actually said " Take That". David taking out a huge dude with one shot makes a whole lot more sense now.

[tmmmedia]

“ You mean to tell me you’re gonna stand here, owning a fireworks stand… And you don’t have no whistling kitty chasers??”

[barondavisiscool]

I wonder what 2000 slings sounded like at once!! 😱

[ashemgold]

Made one of these when I was 17. Carried it in pocket for 20 years until I lost it somehow. Got pretty good. Could hurl a stone about 150 mph at 200 meters. Stones would spin exiting the leather pouch. Flatter stones would sound out with a haunting buzz, but because of the drag wouldn't fly as fast or far. Coolest party piece ever. Not for the faint of heart.

[privatefrizz]

Even thousands of years ago, soldiers knew the devastating effects of Suppressive fire.

[johncbeer]

...and then that guy said "hey, let's load it with naphtha and palm oil."

[khazngray]

Seeing one person who knows how to use a sling is scary enough. All you can do is imagine that rock hitting you that hard.

[TheBrazenCarcharger]

Imagine being a noble warrior of the time about to go defend your life liberty and countryman and you get absolutely effing brained by a slingshot 😂 rip ironicus

[couchwarrior]

Slings are much older than 1, 800 years.

[talllll.ll.]

"I'm not scurred" heard the whistling nerf football "someone's gonna get injured this day" -8 year old me