Around 100 BC, the Romans adopted and refined the ballista, a torsion-powered siege engine capable of launching bolts with great force. This innovation in military technology allowed for more effective siege tactics and battlefield support. The standardization and improvement of the ballista exemplified Roman engineering prowess and their strategic approach to warfare, influencing military practices for centuries.

Roman adoption and refinement of ballistae, detailed by Josephus and other chroniclers, inspired poetic imagery of mechanical destruction in Roman and medieval literature. Poets like Virgil and later medieval bards used such imagery to explore themes of war, power, and the human condition.