Macedonian & Persian War
Macedonian , Persian War , the Persian archers , Istanbul Archeology Museum .
Excellent
Ertuğrul,
These are very good pictures of the famous sarcophagus. It clearly shows how short bows were drawn with two fingers. It also shows clear depictions of how the bow was held.
These are very good pictures of the famous sarcophagus. It clearly shows how short bows were drawn with two fingers. It also shows clear depictions of how the bow was held.
Thank you !
What is the date of the war and what is the date of the carving? And who did the carving (nationality)?
Thanks Bede; Very interesting. It is somewhat amazing that the themes are hunting (peace) and fighting (war); the well established themes of the Scythians, and others.
From what time do we have evidence of thumb rings in this era?
I am also surprised that the Persians are not depicted using some kind of thumb draw.
The thumb draw was not introduced into Iran until after the fall of the Sasanian Empire to the Arabs (c. 651 CE). It may have infiltrated earlier, but in all likelihood the Old Turkish Empire (c. 552-745 CE) in Central Asia is where it entered from.
There is one thumb ring fragment from the old Roman frontier fort of Dura Europos now in eastern Syria, but its dating is insecure. The earliest date is in the 250s CE, but the shape of the thumb ring is of a late style. The surface decoration of concentric rings is still used in Syria today on traditional craft items.
Parthian and Sasanian pictorial evidence shows either three fingered or two fingered releases. The earliest depiction of the thumb draw in Iran is the Soghdian silver plate of the post conquest era showing both a thumb draw and stirrups.
There is one thumb ring fragment from the old Roman frontier fort of Dura Europos now in eastern Syria, but its dating is insecure. The earliest date is in the 250s CE, but the shape of the thumb ring is of a late style. The surface decoration of concentric rings is still used in Syria today on traditional craft items.
Parthian and Sasanian pictorial evidence shows either three fingered or two fingered releases. The earliest depiction of the thumb draw in Iran is the Soghdian silver plate of the post conquest era showing both a thumb draw and stirrups.