Followup question : Would either be used in pitched battles as shown in Gladiator?
Ballistae, were large, crossbow like pieces of artillery that worked on torsion and were mostly anti-infantry, able to pierce ranks, causing incredible shock to morale.
Onagers were also used against infantry but we're also far more suited against fortifications, most of which were simple wooden walls that didn't need huge artillery pieces, like we see in the Medieval period.