Dionysius I of Syracuse
The earliest artillery pieces, like gastraphetes, were driven by large [[composite bow]]s. According to Marsden's analysis of ancient sources, they were invented in [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]] in 399 BC, when [[tyrant]] [[Dionysius I of Syracuse|Dionysius I]] gathered there an assembly of expert craftsmen to conduct a research on new armament. [[Diodorus Siculus|Diodorus]]