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Slinging Insults

Features July/August 2026

By Benjamin Leonard

Greek and Roman soldiers fired pointed barbs at their enemies
Lead sling bullet inscribed with the Greek inscription MATHOU Lead sling bullet inscribed with the Greek inscription MATHOU
Courtesy Michael Eisenberg
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Lead sling bullets inscribed with the Greek word NIKE (left) and the abbreviation CAES (right) for Julius Caesar
Lead bullets fired from slingshots in battles throughout the ancient Greek and Roman world were sometimes inscribed with acclamations such as NIKE, or “Victory!” (left), or with names of commanders such as the abbreviation CAES for Julius Caesar (right).
Map of Israel showing Sea of Galilee and a point for the site of Hippos

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Benjamin Leonard is a senior editor at ARCHAEOLOGY.

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