Marks in the walls of Pompeii are drawing attention from researchers studying how Roman forces attacked the city in 89 BC. Some of those marks may point to the use of a little-known weapon capable of firing several bolts in quick succession.
The city is widely known for its destruction during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Earlier in its history, however, Pompeii was involved in the Social War, when a number of Italian communities rose against Rome. After siding with the rebels, the city came under attack by forces led by Lucius Cornelius Sulla.
Damage from that siege can still be seen, especially along the northern wall. Large impact points indicate where catapults struck with heavy stone projectiles. Mixed in with these are smaller holes, grouped closely together and arranged in curved patterns. These differ in both size and layout from the larger impacts.
A research team led by Adriana Rossi studied these markings using laser scans and digital models. The goal was to understand what kind of weapon could have produced such regular groupings.
The pattern matches descriptions recorded by Philo of Byzantium in the third century BC. He wrote about a device called a polybolos, designed to fire a series of bolts one after another. The mechanism used a chain system to load and release each shot automatically.
According to those descriptions, the bolts would follow a controlled path, striking along a curved line. This is similar to the arc-shaped clusters visible in the wall at Pompeii. The spacing between the holes also fits this type of firing sequence.
No physical remains of the machine have been found at the site, but the marks themselves provide a possible link. The regularity and grouping suggest a controlled, repeated firing action rather than isolated shots.
Sulla’s earlier career may help explain how such a weapon could have been used. Before the campaign in Italy, he spent time in the eastern Mediterranean, including areas connected to Rhodes. In antiquity, Rhodes was known for technical skill and the production of advanced siege equipment.
The siege ended with Roman forces breaking through the defenses. By 80 BC, Pompeii had been taken and turned into a Roman colony. Over time, the city became fully integrated into Roman life.
The study, published in the journal Heritage, focuses on the physical traces left behind rather than written accounts alone. The wall damage offers a way to examine how the attack unfolded and what tools may have been used.
Sources : From Pompeii to Rhodes, from Survey to Sources: The Use of Polybolos – doi: 10.3390/heritage9030096
