Some of the historians, mechanicians and artists from whom information on balistas, catapults and trebuchets may be derived, are as follows. I name them alphabetically irrespective of their periods:
Abbo: A monk of Saint-Germain des Prés, born about the middle of the ninth century, died in 923. He wrote a poem in Latin describing the siege of Paris by the Northmen in 885–886.
Ammianus Marcellinus: Military historian. Died shortly after 390. His work first printed at Rome 1474. The latest edition is that of V. Gardthausen, 1874–1875.
Appian: Historian. Lived at Rome during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian and Antoninus Pius, 98–161. The best edition of his History is that of Schweighaeuser, 1785.
Apollodorus of Damascus: Built Trajan’s Column, 105–113. Architect and engineer. Addressed a series of letters to the Emperor Trajan on siege engines (vide Thévenot).
Athenæus: Lived in the time of Archimedes, B.C. 287–212. The author of a treatise on warlike engines (vide Thévenot).
Biton: Flourished about 250 B.C. Wrote a treatise on siege engines for throwing stones (vide Thévenot).
Blondel, François: French engineer and architect; born 1617; died 1686.
Cæsar, Julius (the Dictator): Born B.C. 100; died B.C. 44. Author of the ‘Commentaries’ on the Gallic and Civil wars.
Camden, William: Born 1551; died 1623. Antiquary. Published his ‘Britannia’ 1586–1607.