Ближний Восток и его соседи

g 202 h David Nicolle 97. A slight broadening frequently seen on the diameter of the butt of a crossbow bolt is clear in this late Mamlūk example from the Citadel of Damascus. (Syrian De- partment of Antiquities; author’s photograph). 98. The two most common forms of thickening to strengthen the butts of late Mamlūk crossbowbolts is illustrated, again with slight exaggeration, in these draw- ings of examples from CD5 of the Citadel of Damascus. The fact that such strengthen- ing was considered necessary highlights the huge pressure which was imposed upon the bolts when loosed from powerful crossbows which incorporated the composite bowstaves. (Author’s drawings).