Slingers and Sling Bullets in the Roman Civil Wars of the Late Republic, 90-31 BC
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Archaeopress
Published:24th Nov '23
Should be back in stock very soon
Slingers were an element in the Roman army over many centuries. Their activities are frequently reported in literary accounts of battles and sieges during the civil wars of the Late Republic. Sling bullets, in stone, clay and lead, have been found at many scenes of conflict. Lead bullets often bear brief inscriptions addressed to the recipients, naming military units, their commanders and centurions; others carry sexual insults. This is an ever-expanding body of ancient evidence. Yet some books on the Roman army scarcely mention slingers. This monograph seeks to redress the balance and draws attention to their role and effectiveness. It covers the period between the Social War of 90-89 BC and the close of the civil wars at the battle of Actium in 31 BC, encompassing the campaigns of Julius Caesar in Gaul between 58 and 50 BC, including his expeditions to Britain, the wars between Caesar and Pompey the Great (and his sons) in 49-45 BC, and between Caesar’s heirs and successors in 44-31 BC, including Mark Antony and the future emperor Augustus.
‘Overall, Keppie presents a clear, accessible and engaging discussion of the evidence and its wider context of use, meaning the work is suitable for students and general readers interested in the period and the Roman army, as well as researchers. By framing the evidence within what is known about slingers and their function, Keppie demonstrates not only the role of slingers within the Roman army, but also an understanding of their effectiveness and the various ways this enhances our interpretation of their sling bullets.’ – Hannah Cornwell (2024): sehepunkte 24
'Slingers and Sling Bullets, though a fairly slim volume, is a very useful one. The book is well-produced, with numerous maps and images. Perhaps its greatest value, aided immensely by the inclusion of footnotes, is in Keppie’s effort to pull together the scattered ancient sources and often equally scattered modern archaeological scholarship, including very recent work, into a single volume. Enthusiasts, wargamers and reenactors will find this book a remarkable value at its price point, especially given Keppie’s straight-forward and readable prose. However, the volume will also be remarkably useful for scholars and students at all stages working on the Roman military, seeking to get a handle on the textual and archaeological evidence for these important, if oft ignored, combatants on Rome’s battlefields.' – Bret C. Devereaux (2025): Bryn Mawr Classical Review
‘Keppie masterfully draws together the information and references for the shot of the period, setting out the evidence they provide for the understanding of specific sieges and battles. … Keppie is to be particularly congratulated for providing a comprehensive set of references across a range of languages which will make further study of this fascinating weapon a deal easier. … This volume brings this to the fore, and has every sign of being the platform for a huge leap forward in future studies’– Bill Griffiths (2024): Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies
ISBN: 9781803276403
Dimensions: 245mm x 174mm x 5mm
Weight: 800g
110 pages