Serbian archery
Hi! Can anybody tell me what kind of bow is this, and what is the second string? It's picture from Serbian monastery, and I do not know anything about Serbian archery.
The bow seems generally to follow the Turkish design. There were many derivative designs from the Turks, ranging from China and Korea in the Ming Dynasty to bows used in Eastern Europe.
The second string is also shown in some Chinese depictions. It seems to be just that: a handy second string in case the first string broke. The turks had a crafty trick of using a special release for arrows with blades hidden in the nock. When enemies picked up such arrows and tried to shoot them back, their strings would be cut. A second string to one's bow seems a useful precaution.
The second string is also shown in some Chinese depictions. It seems to be just that: a handy second string in case the first string broke. The turks had a crafty trick of using a special release for arrows with blades hidden in the nock. When enemies picked up such arrows and tried to shoot them back, their strings would be cut. A second string to one's bow seems a useful precaution.
Thanks you Stephen. I'm new in this, so I have lots of questions. Is there some literally source about archery in Southeastern Europe? We Serbs were between great archery nations Turks and Magyars. Also Slavs had archery tradition, but today I can't find anything about old Serbian archery. In many songs, pictures and historical documents Serbian warriors had bows and arrows, but all of that tradition is lost. Sorry for bed English, and thanks again.
There are several references to archery in Serbia in the Atarn site. I don't know if these older discussions are available at the moment.
I have been shown some pictures of Serbian paintings of the 13th and 14th century which show that the Serbs were aware of the trends in steppe archery. Even the quiver in your painting is of steppe origin. This demonstrates the interesting combination of Byzantine and Turco-Mongol influences which cultures in the middle of these groups can sometimes achieve.
I have been shown some pictures of Serbian paintings of the 13th and 14th century which show that the Serbs were aware of the trends in steppe archery. Even the quiver in your painting is of steppe origin. This demonstrates the interesting combination of Byzantine and Turco-Mongol influences which cultures in the middle of these groups can sometimes achieve.
Do you have Zoran Pavlovic's e-mail, a have found some his posts here?
Jos jedan balkanac. Fino. :)
Kakav crni balkanac, Balkan je do Save i Dunava, ja sam s ovu stranu. ;-) Montenegro? Jes ti od ovih nashih Crnogoraca il od onih Milovih? ;-) Video sam da si pravio neku tursku strijelu... shta se josh chini? Ljute li se ovi shto pishemo Srpski?