Bulgarian & Serbian bows-similarity and differences
Hello to everyone,
I opened this topic with the intention to consider some facts concerning the similarities and differences of the bows which appear at the Bulgarian and Serbian frescoes dated from the fifteenth century.
As an example, I took into consideration a Kremikovski Monastery near Sofia, on the edge of Old mountain in Bulgaria and monastery Kalenic in the vicinity of Rekovac in Serbia.
Kremikovski monastery was built on the ruins of an old monastery from the time of Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander (1331st-1371.), which was destroyed during Ottoman invasion,.rebuilt by Radivoj the boyar in the fifteenth century, when Bulgaria was under Ottoman Empire.
The monastery Kalenić was founded by protovestijar Bogdan,one of the landlords of Serbian despot Stefan Lazarevic, built between 1407 and 1413.g.
Although both of them are part of Byzantine church architecture and mural painting, they belong to different schools of architecture and painting, especially Kalenić belonging to the so-called 'Moravian School'.
Both monasteries abound in representations of holy warriors with bows and archery equipment. What is interesting is the similarity in the design of the bows which appear. All these bows pointing to a shorter form that is most likely an indicator of the impact that the Ottomans were already present in the region of Southeast Europe. Ears of the bows are short and it can be seen very little reflex at the grip portion or there?s no any reflex. It seems that the Bulgarian frescoes clearly presented evolution to the Ottoman form and it also seems to be a same bow painted several times.
In addition, there are similarities and differences. At the fresco of st.Teodor, Stratelates and st.Mercurius it can be clearly seen black color at the belly of the bow which prove the horn without any decoration.Back of the bows seem to be coated by birch bark. Interesting, the way st.Merkurije is holding an arrow in his hands is very similar as representation of st.Prokopije in Lesnovo monastery.
The bows at the Serbian frescoes do not have characteristic reflex at the handle portion as in early representations of XIVth c. and also short siyahs appears.Same as all bows in the Serbian frescoes, these ones have clearly expressed the white color on the belly of the bow, which makes conclusion about birch bark or some other form of decoration and protection.Seems that stylization is very pronounced, but if we take into account Buryat bow form from later times,its authenticity is quite possible (again,I consider short ears of the bow, and I took it into consideration as a pro- form).
Bowcases and quivers at the Bulgarian frescoes probably point of Turkish or even Persian influence while the bows at Serbian frescoes remained steppe form often seen in early representations.
I would like if other friends from ATARN could give some critic, comment or observation.
Also, i hope that our bulgarian friend Lord Ruthven-Alexandar already found picture of mounted archer shooting the bow from Psalter so that we could have clear picture about horseback archery in mediaeval Balkan.
*******Stephen, i reached limit of 2MB. Could you help with these pictures please so that i could insert pictures i wanted to compare.
I opened this topic with the intention to consider some facts concerning the similarities and differences of the bows which appear at the Bulgarian and Serbian frescoes dated from the fifteenth century.
As an example, I took into consideration a Kremikovski Monastery near Sofia, on the edge of Old mountain in Bulgaria and monastery Kalenic in the vicinity of Rekovac in Serbia.
Kremikovski monastery was built on the ruins of an old monastery from the time of Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander (1331st-1371.), which was destroyed during Ottoman invasion,.rebuilt by Radivoj the boyar in the fifteenth century, when Bulgaria was under Ottoman Empire.
The monastery Kalenić was founded by protovestijar Bogdan,one of the landlords of Serbian despot Stefan Lazarevic, built between 1407 and 1413.g.
Although both of them are part of Byzantine church architecture and mural painting, they belong to different schools of architecture and painting, especially Kalenić belonging to the so-called 'Moravian School'.
Both monasteries abound in representations of holy warriors with bows and archery equipment. What is interesting is the similarity in the design of the bows which appear. All these bows pointing to a shorter form that is most likely an indicator of the impact that the Ottomans were already present in the region of Southeast Europe. Ears of the bows are short and it can be seen very little reflex at the grip portion or there?s no any reflex. It seems that the Bulgarian frescoes clearly presented evolution to the Ottoman form and it also seems to be a same bow painted several times.
In addition, there are similarities and differences. At the fresco of st.Teodor, Stratelates and st.Mercurius it can be clearly seen black color at the belly of the bow which prove the horn without any decoration.Back of the bows seem to be coated by birch bark. Interesting, the way st.Merkurije is holding an arrow in his hands is very similar as representation of st.Prokopije in Lesnovo monastery.
The bows at the Serbian frescoes do not have characteristic reflex at the handle portion as in early representations of XIVth c. and also short siyahs appears.Same as all bows in the Serbian frescoes, these ones have clearly expressed the white color on the belly of the bow, which makes conclusion about birch bark or some other form of decoration and protection.Seems that stylization is very pronounced, but if we take into account Buryat bow form from later times,its authenticity is quite possible (again,I consider short ears of the bow, and I took it into consideration as a pro- form).
Bowcases and quivers at the Bulgarian frescoes probably point of Turkish or even Persian influence while the bows at Serbian frescoes remained steppe form often seen in early representations.
I would like if other friends from ATARN could give some critic, comment or observation.
Also, i hope that our bulgarian friend Lord Ruthven-Alexandar already found picture of mounted archer shooting the bow from Psalter so that we could have clear picture about horseback archery in mediaeval Balkan.
*******Stephen, i reached limit of 2MB. Could you help with these pictures please so that i could insert pictures i wanted to compare.
another pictures show bows in monastery Kalenic.
![[external image]](http://thumb2.webshots.net/t/28/29/3/95/28/257439528hMAaRA_th.jpg){kind=link}
![[external image]](http://thumb2.webshots.net/t/32/32/3/97/47/257439747fyexXh_th.jpg){kind=link}
![[external image]](http://thumb2.webshots.net/t/30/31/3/99/68/257439968KCARYz_th.jpg){kind=link}
interesting zoran,
i am very much interested about the archery in Balkans. maybe you know where to see some data on the net?
i was quite surprised to see bows in Radimlja, Herzegovina. they look to me like Turkish style bows. Place is dated to be around 14th century, and Turks conquered that area in second half of 15th century. It's a quite rough image though, so it's hard to speak about style
i am very much interested about the archery in Balkans. maybe you know where to see some data on the net?
i was quite surprised to see bows in Radimlja, Herzegovina. they look to me like Turkish style bows. Place is dated to be around 14th century, and Turks conquered that area in second half of 15th century. It's a quite rough image though, so it's hard to speak about style
Hi Zora,
I know you do mean Radimlja medieval necropolis near Stolac.Bows that appear on tombstones called stećak (pl. Stećci) appear in many cases, especially in scenes of hunting. It appears that deer hunting was very common in these areas..As many other representations on these tombstones, especially those ones where weapons appear, it is visible very strong stylization of bows and arrows that appear either as ornaments or as part of the armament of warriors or in scenes of hunting.
I think it is very difficult to talk about any type of bow (do mean modern typology)especially those ones of the Turkish influence (although the Turkish influence from this period is very possible though we do not need to exaggerate the expiration therewith). I believe that you come to such a conclusion because of the short form of the bows which appear on the reliefs . It is undeniable that it is a reflex type of bows, though it can?t be seen a double curve bow on any tombstone as it in Serbian,Bulgarian,Romanian,Byzantine or Georgian mural painting but D shape bow with curved ends.
All I can say for now is that the tombstones called stećci are great hidden cultural and artistic treasure with great historical value, where scenes with archery equipment may contribute to a clearer picture of some aspects of life such as hunting, war or tournaments but it is very difficult to work on reconstruction of ??working??archery equipment. I think that we must first get into the psychology of tombstones (stećak).
On this tombstone from Radimlja I inserted, there's representation of bow often shown at 63 decorated tombstones among 133 in Radimlja. Bow and arrow on this stećak appear as ornament beside the representation of warrior or nobleman which could confirm the fact that the bows in the Balkans were part of the equipment both higher and lower nobility (the entire area where the necropolis is located was the estate of the voivods of the family Miloradović - Hrabren). Contrary to beliefs that these tombstones are related to heretical 'Bosnian Church', either the Orthodox and Catholics were buried beneath them..
Unfortunately I have no more pictures because I need to scan those ones that are published. This theme is very broad, if we take into account that the tombstones of this type appear in Nevesinje, Gacko, Bileca, Milavić, Konjic and so on. So I think we should open a new topic on this issue.
Zora, ziv bio i nadam se da ces se malo vise ukljuciti u diskusiju.
It is very difficult to find more about archery in medieval Balkans on the net. But there's ATARN where we can discuss and share knowledge and different opinions and come to many conclusions.
*it is very difficult to me to express myself in english:-)
Pozdrav, Best regards
I know you do mean Radimlja medieval necropolis near Stolac.Bows that appear on tombstones called stećak (pl. Stećci) appear in many cases, especially in scenes of hunting. It appears that deer hunting was very common in these areas..As many other representations on these tombstones, especially those ones where weapons appear, it is visible very strong stylization of bows and arrows that appear either as ornaments or as part of the armament of warriors or in scenes of hunting.
I think it is very difficult to talk about any type of bow (do mean modern typology)especially those ones of the Turkish influence (although the Turkish influence from this period is very possible though we do not need to exaggerate the expiration therewith). I believe that you come to such a conclusion because of the short form of the bows which appear on the reliefs . It is undeniable that it is a reflex type of bows, though it can?t be seen a double curve bow on any tombstone as it in Serbian,Bulgarian,Romanian,Byzantine or Georgian mural painting but D shape bow with curved ends.
All I can say for now is that the tombstones called stećci are great hidden cultural and artistic treasure with great historical value, where scenes with archery equipment may contribute to a clearer picture of some aspects of life such as hunting, war or tournaments but it is very difficult to work on reconstruction of ??working??archery equipment. I think that we must first get into the psychology of tombstones (stećak).
On this tombstone from Radimlja I inserted, there's representation of bow often shown at 63 decorated tombstones among 133 in Radimlja. Bow and arrow on this stećak appear as ornament beside the representation of warrior or nobleman which could confirm the fact that the bows in the Balkans were part of the equipment both higher and lower nobility (the entire area where the necropolis is located was the estate of the voivods of the family Miloradović - Hrabren). Contrary to beliefs that these tombstones are related to heretical 'Bosnian Church', either the Orthodox and Catholics were buried beneath them..
Unfortunately I have no more pictures because I need to scan those ones that are published. This theme is very broad, if we take into account that the tombstones of this type appear in Nevesinje, Gacko, Bileca, Milavić, Konjic and so on. So I think we should open a new topic on this issue.
Zora, ziv bio i nadam se da ces se malo vise ukljuciti u diskusiju.
It is very difficult to find more about archery in medieval Balkans on the net. But there's ATARN where we can discuss and share knowledge and different opinions and come to many conclusions.
*it is very difficult to me to express myself in english:-)
Pozdrav, Best regards
interesting fletching on the arrows guys have which you putted above. quite low and nocks also resemble turkish style arrows. i am impressed with the details which the artist covered