HELLENIC ARCHERY TARGETS

HELLENIC ARCHERY TARGETS FROM THE GEOMETRIC TO THE CLASSICAL PERIOD

The shield is not only a weapon (ὀπλον) to protect yourself from the enemy, but logically speaking it is also the target for any skirmishing warrior - peltast (πελταστης), who is using projectiles, arrows, sling shots, or small javelins against you.

The shield from a distance becomes the mark, the point of direction of an archer's action, with the hope that the arrow will find an opening on the wall of the shield in order to kill or injure an opponent.

Following this logic I present - first time as a concept -  a few designs from ancient Hellenic shields that have been found on vases from the Geometric to the Classical Hellenic period.

I would like to make clear that my intention is not to impose any of these designs as the Hellenic archery target, but to encourage archers from around the world to use any of the nearly 200 examples of shields from this period that are circulating on the internet. 

If anyone wishes to use the designs that I am presenting, please be my guest. They are not mine but they belong to Hellenic history and tradition. 

The targets that I am presenting here are of a design that does not imitate modern designs, like targets with multiple circles etc, but they have something that characterises them as Hellenic .

The irony is that the only target that is recorded on pottery is very similar to the modern interpretation of centered circles and appears like a target practice of Athenian cavalry, which of course I am enclosing   in my brief collection. 

One of the targets is a free interpretation of the Lernaean Hydra and the only one that has my personal approach.

I have tried not to enclose symbols that represent gods, or items of worship as a personal respect to the ancients, but again that is open to personal interpretation. 

The symbols that I think are "legitimate targets", if I can say this, are all the labours of Hercules. So, I have the hydra - the Mother of all targets !! - the centaur,  birds,  and wild-boar, lion and others can be used. Hercules together with Apollo was the most famous of our ancient archers and many others.

The geometric designs I have chosen also very often appear as chariot wheels from the Geometric to Classical period. 
All targets are the same size like the hoplites shields, 80-100 cm in diameter. 

I will say a few more things on each individual target, but also some recommendations about the way they should be used. 

Except for the general use targets, I am very interested to present targets for marksmanship i.e.  high skilled archers - snipers- that without doubt would have been in action in any army from the dawn of time!

THE HYDRA


                                           

The Lernaea Hydra.  The "mother of all targets". Ten arrows for 10 targets. Nine heads and one for the soul of the monster. All ten small targets 10 cm in diameter.

                                             Ref: 494

GENERAL PURPOSE TARGETS

A general purpose type of target that is a very common design on hoplite shields from different historical periods, but also the only (so far) reference of  a target.  "Athenian cavalry target practise"- 450 BCE.

              Ref: 304.2

                                                              Ref: 52

A general purpose target that also resembles the  wheel of chariots that appears  on many vases from the geometric to classical period.

                                                        Ref: 297

                                                                    

A general purpose target that also resembles the wheel of chariots that appears on many vases from the geometric to classical period.

                                             Ref : 5

                                                            

SPECIAL TARGETS FOR MARKSMANSHIP 

            THE FLYWHEEL

                                                                             

The "Flywheel" is a spinning or rolling  target. Four arrows for four birds in motion. Distance 10m and above.

Ref: 176.1 (Third from the left)

THE CENTAUR 

                                                                              

                                          The "Centaur".

                                           Ref: 172.1

Heracles vs. Centaurs
550 BCE. Heracles kills with his arrows the Centaurs while they are fleeing. He dresses the skin of the Nemean lion and is armed with bow and sword. An arrow hits the first Centaur in the head and the blood covers his forehead and his breast. Between him and Heracles, a dark red stone is flying toward the hero: the second Centaur, with his left hand, is throwing stones against Heracles, but is about to be hit by an arrow.
Black figured KantharosMade in Boeotia.

THE CRAB

                                                                               

                 

The "Crab", something for the marine archers to practise. 

                                                                         

                                                  Ref: 45

CELESTIAL BODIES

                               Ref: 01




A target with many options. 

                               Ref: 01


THE LION

                                 

                                   Ref: 29

           

                                  The "Lion".

                                 Ref: 29

THE BOAR

                                 

                                Ref: 469

              Ref: 469

The "Erymanthian Boar" - one of my favorites. 

"The Calydonian Boar Hunt", on the neck of the Francois Vase. 570 BCE

An epic occasion introducing many important heroic figures, like Atalanta and Dioscuri (behind it, share a spear).

THE SCORPION

                                 Ref: 13

The "Scorpion" was the blazon for the Spartan Mora of Geronthron, a place situated today near the Laconian village of Geraki. Later the scorpion was also used by the Roman Pretorian guard. It is a  popular symbol on Hellenic shields. Eleven types of scorpion were known in antiquity: white, red, smoky, black, green, pot-bellied, crab-like, fiery red-orange, those with double sting, those with seven segments, and those with wings. I choose the scorpion with seven segments for this target design for practical reasons. 

                               Ref: 13

                               Ref: 13

                                          

        

                                             

..... and don't forget. There are around 200 or more Hellenic designs of shields  you can use.

Please check for the accuracy of the designs, and the only way to do this, is to find them on Hellenic vases etc. of the period. Nothing else will do!

"In order to naturalise your opponent, you have to learn the way he fights". 

LIke Thebans did to Spartans - Battle of Leuctra 371 BCE."

                                         

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Early Greek Vase Painting - John Boardman.
Athenian Red Figure Vases / The Archaic Period - John Boardman.
Athenian Black Figure Vases - John Boardman.
Athenian Red Figure Vases / The Classical Period - John Boardman.
British Museum, London.

©  GREX LUPORUM
Please do not reproduce without permission.