Editing Roman siege engines (section)

===Scorpio===
{{Main|Scorpio (dart-thrower)}}

[[Image:Balliste.jpg|thumb|230px|Modern reconstruction of a Scorpio]]

The ''scorpio'' was a [[crossbow]]-like device that shot smaller arrows with deadly accuracy<ref name="Keppie 1984: 99"/> used both in the field and in sieges.  They were so-named for their deadly, armor-piercing sting and could be operated by just one or two men.  Scorpios were meant to kill and injure enemy troops, rather than break down enemy fortifications.  Thanks to their smaller size, they could be mounted on or in [[siege towers]].  During the [[Siege of Amida (359)|Siege of Amida]], a scorpio arrow killed the son of [[Grumbates]], king of the [[Chionitae]], when he was approaching the city to surrender.<ref>Goldsworthy 2000: 191</ref>

There has been some research done into the existence of the self-loading, serial repeating ''scorpio'' or [[polybolos]]. [[Roman legion|Legionaries]] on either side would continuously keep turning cranks which turned a chain, which operated the various mechanisms to load and shoot the catapult. All that was needed was for another soldier to keep feeding in more arrows.<ref>[http://www.roman-empire.net/army/leg-siege.html Siege weapons at roman-empire.net]</ref>