Various history of archery

 

What is archery used for?


Now in this time, archery is a sport that can be enjoyed by everyone - men and women of any age, and whether they are able bodies or disable. Archery may look like strength is needed when to pull a bow, but the success of archery relies more on technique then pure muscle power.

Every place have different technique and method. The basic form of every archer is essentially the same across all disciplines of the sport. We learn the basic form of archery, the topics concentrate on recurve target archery. it is the basis for Olympic competition.

The story and development of the bow and arrow

Prehistoric roots

Source : worldarchery.sport

 

The bow and arrow have been used since prehistoric times. In Prehistoric time, bow and arrow was used for hunting. Evidence show bow and arrow adapted for combat across until the invention by firearms.

Hunting

Stone-age time, bow and arrow was painting on  cave, that date back to 20.000 BC and the discovery of arrowheads from before 25.000 BC. The oldest bow found was in Northern Europe and dates from around 9.000 BC. Although a simple wood bow, the craftsmanship show a high level of sophistication that adheres to design principles still used today.

Military Use

Bow usually made composed form wood, animal horn and sinew, the recurve bow become a formidable military weapon. Bring shorter, but much more powerful bow, enable the bow to be shot from horseback or from a chariot, sending arrows 200 m or more.

Mythological archers 

Archery has played an integral part in may myths. Odysseus won the hand of Penelope by shooting an arrow through the holes in ten axe hooks: Eros more commonly know as Cupid, shot arrows of desire; whereas Apollo shot arrows carrying the plague,, and Paris shot an arrow that wounded Achilles in his heel.

The bow and arrow also feature more recently in folklore, from the heroic outlaw Robin Hood to the defiant William Tell, who with a single shot split an apple that rested on his son's head. The archer also appears in our night skies in the constellation of Sagittarius.

Archery as sport

 The Grand National Archery Society (mid-nineteenth century) and the establishment of set rules and rounds that the pastime of archery was turned into the modern sport of today.

Indonesian Archery Athlete  [source : gbk.id]

 

New materials enabled the archer to become more accurate and consistent, but the real revolution in the sport came dorm the development of the compound bow; this design, featuring levers and pulleys enables a very high draw weight to be pulled with minimal effort. This style of bow is rapidly growing in popularity but is also helping to revive an interest in the traditional styles at the same time. 

Source :

e-book : Archery Skill Tactics Techniques

writer : Deborah Charles

The Crowood Press Ltd