The end of the 5th c. BC saw one of the most important technological advances in the military history of antiquity - the introduction of artillery in various forms, which was at first mainly used in the context of siege warfare, but soon found employment on the battlefield as well. Ranging from small pieces with a two-men crew to huge contraptions capable of firing stone balls of 50lbs or more, artillery had a significant impact on key aspects of ancient warfare - the most obvious being the development of highly complex fortifications rivalling early artillery fortifications of the 15th and 16th c.

However, while the purely technological aspects of ancient artillery have seen considerable scholarly attention in the past - from the edition of ancient treatises on artillery to the reconstruction of various artillery pieces - other key issues have so far been neglected; therefore, the proposed paper will concentrate on three main points:

One - the introduction of artillery had a direct effect on the logistics of ancient armies; artillery pieces were cumbersome yet delicate, not exactly easy to transport and in many cases needed manufactured ammunition. As the number of artillery pieces employed by ancient armies rose, so did the logistical problems facing their commanders. Two - employing artillery on the battlefield, in the fire support role during an amphibious landing or during a naval engagement created problems of command and control that had been unknown before the introduction of artillery. Three - the most important effect however was on the military personnel, as the successful operation of artillery pieces required maintenance personnel with considerable technical skills. The development of these skills fits into the overall process of professionalization of warfare that can be observed in the Hellenistic period and eventually culminated in the Roman army of the principate, in which a high degree of technical competence as well as literacy was a prerequisite for advancement beyond the lowest ranks.