Um Actually

Published August 12, 2017 · Updated July 6, 2022

Ok can we please stop with this poisoned scorpion bolt nonsense. I’ve heard more than once on the show that many Drogon is going to be poisoned because he got shot by a big crossbow called a scorpion right?!?

The crossbow bolts are not poisoned because it was shot from a weapon called a scorpion. Let’s talk about scorpions, since no one seems to know their history here.

Here is the wikipedia page for the roman scorpion, or scorpio.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpio_(weapon)

A few choice quotes for everyone, since people have run the gamut from thinking, “what a ridiculous concept, a giant crossbow”, “how would anyone ever make anything so complex”, or “how would it ever hit anything”

From Wikipedia:

“The scorpio was a smaller catapult-type weapon, more of a sniper weapon than a siege engine, operated by one man. The scorpio was basically an early crossbow, a “catapult with bolts”, probably first invented by the Greeks, then later adopted and used on a larger scale by the Roman legions. This catapult used a system of torsion springs to propel the bolts.”

“The scorpio had mainly two functions in a legion. In precision shooting, it was a weapon of marksmanship capable of cutting down any foe within a distance of 100 meters. During the siege of Avaricum in the war against the Gauls, Julius Caesar describes the terrifying precision of the scorpio.[2] In parabolic shooting, the range is greater, with distances up to 400 meters, and the firing rate is higher (3 to 4 shots per minute). ”

“The weight and speed of a bolt was sufficient to pierce enemy shields, usually also wounding the enemy so struck. The Scorpion was often a cumbersome and costly siege weapon , as it was quite difficult to move and acted as a more fixed weapon used for long-range defense.”

In summary, a scorpion is not a clever name thought up by game of thrones for a fantasy weapon they made up in their heads. It has a real origin, made by romans, who could be considered of a similar tech level to westeros. The name has nothing to do with a multi legged giant tail stinger scorpion.. There is nothing unrealistic or ridiculous about its concept. It’s perfectly feasible for one man to use it, albeit at a slower pace (which seemed pretty similar to what Bronn what shooting at)

Now you know, and you can hopefully educate the masses and put a stop to the crazy theories of poisoned scorpion bolts.

Chris

Subscribe Now