Originally Posted by
Hellenikon
I agree, I doubt that greek sheepherders were using lead bullets as part of their daily lives, which is what the sphendonetai unit sort of represents (a levy of peasants). However I can imagine the skaplinai, rhodian slingers, those recorded by xenophon on the anabasis, to be using a more professional grade sling and then have lead bullets cast as part of that. I would prefer to see two kind of slingers, the levy ones who use rocks and are very widespread, and a more professional type which is much more restricted geographically but could use the glandes.