Lipsius, Justus: Historian. Born 1547; died 1606.
Mézeray, François E. de: French historian. Born 1610; died 1683. Published ‘Histoire de France,’ 1643–1651.
Napoleon III.: ‘Etudes sur l’artillerie,’ compiled by order of the Emperor and containing many drawings of the full-sized models of siege engines made by his orders, with interesting and scientific criticism of their power and effect.
Philo of Byzantium: A writer on and inventor of warlike and other engines. Lived shortly after the time of Archimedes (Archimedes died 212 B.C.): was a contemporary of Ctesibius, who lived in the reign of Ptolemy Physcon, B.C. 170–117 (vide Thévenot).
Plutarch: Biographer and historian. Time of birth and death unknown. He was a young man in A.D. 66.
Polybius: Military historian. Born about B.C. 204. His History commences B.C. 220 and concludes B.C. 146. The most interesting edition is the one translated into French by Vincent Thuillier with a commentary by de Folard, 1727–1730.
Procopius: Byzantine historian. Born about 500; died 565. The best edition is that of L. Dindorf, 1833–1838.
Ramelli, Agostino: Italian engineer. Born about 1531; died 1590. Published a work on projectile and other engines, 1588.
Tacitus, Cornelius: Roman historian. Born about A.D. 61.
Thévenot, Melchisedech, 1620–1692: Edited a book called ‘Mathematici Veteres,’ containing several treatises on the siege operations of the ancients, including the construction and management of their projectile engines. In this book are to be found the writings on the subject of military engines that were compiled by Athenæus, Apollodorus, Biton, Heron and Philo. Thévenot was King’s librarian to Louis XIV. After his death the manuscript of ‘Mathematici Veteres,’ or ‘The Ancient Mathematicians,’ was revised and published by La Hire in 1693. The book was again edited by Boivin, an official in the King’s library, who lived 1663–1726. The treatises contained in Thévenot were finally re-edited and published by C. Wescher, Paris, 1869.