Interesting Asiatic Bows in Russian Collections

Dusan · Post by **Dusan** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 12:28 pm

Thank you Andrew. Great museum collection.

Andrew Hall · Post by **Andrew Hall** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:31 am

The database of the Simon Archery Collection at Manchester Museum is available here:
http://emu.man.ac.uk/mmcustom/SArchQuery.php
Most of the bows have a photo (640x480), though the descriptions can be a bit lacking.

Andrew

Dusan · Post by **Dusan** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:14 am

Ouuuu, man ! Andrew thats bows thrasure ! Thank you very much !

Dusan · Post by **Dusan** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 11:04 am

I jumb again in Russian sites. I think i found very interesting pics. Like many others mi founds its no only "Russia" - i hope Ukrainas, Lituanias ,Latvians, Tadziks , Kirgiz, Turkmens and others dont angry to me.All is thanks russian language...
Now i "hunting" in Gruzia /Georgia/sites. And bingo ! Very small budget information , but info. said -archeologs founds in Svaneti region of Gruzia 2 old composite bows from 12-13 c.(!) in very good condition. Probably from Mongol empire period. Fantastic bows. Looks to me like Hunic stile , but litlle more like indopersian feeling.

Svaneti people was very interesting tribe from Gruzia teritory vith diferent language and kultural basic. In Svaneti museum i see fantastic bow- who was probably modern reconstruction of these 2 old bows . Anyway very good looking reconstruction.

I will try more info . about these 2 but unfortunately ...nothing .
In Svaneti folklor was some poems about mongol period. Best Svaneti wariors was like personal dzingis chan guard...

Its Chevsurg /Gruzia/ warior :

+ some pics from Gruzin folklor group showing gruzins traditional fight techniks - include - archery. I dont know from what sources he reconstructed his bows- but interesting.Its good see that sombody can show his cultur vithout Grozer or Kassay laminate bows...

JJ · Post by JJ » Fri Jul 16, 2010 12:34 pm

Amazing!

That find from Svaneti looks like "split-limb" design... Or have two identical bows been bound together in the middle? Is Gruzia in Georgia?

JJ

Dusan · Post by **Dusan** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 1:40 pm

Yes , sorry - Gruzia is Georgia ... Loks like one bow vith two arms -but its 2 bows .

redhawk · Post by **redhawk** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:19 am

Split- limb and asymmetrical?
Michael

Dusan · Post by **Dusan** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 5:37 am

I try login in some russian sites and ask about Georgian bows - but no answer to this time.Yes ,bow loks asimetrical for me too.

Zoran Pavlovic · Post by **Zoran Pavlovic** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:39 pm

I am very curious about ''white bow'' that guy at pic.5 draws.Judging by its short form it looks like Cuman type bow from some Gruzian frescoes and an medieval depiction from Slovakia.Though unstrung, it couldn't have deeper, set back handle and seems to be assymetrical in its form.

Dusan · Post by **Dusan** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:46 am

New bow hamdle bones details from Ienisei graves mohylas- Monashka. (old turcic tribes)Here is clearle visible bow near the body skelet.

wood was /like most of founds / in bad condition. Only some little parts was save. But bone plates have evan birch bark strips.

fragmet of bending section:

Another mohyla-Vyjskoie :

Handle bones from moh. Tsegerak, Vijskoe,Saianskyj Ostrog :

Moh. Solonci :

Dusan · Post by **Dusan** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:53 am

Interesting - Persian bow in Greek painting-Argonauts.

Uli · Post by **Uli** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 6:49 pm

doesnt that painting look more like egyptian or assyrian bow ?

Dusan · Post by **Dusan** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:17 pm

yes.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 2:01 am

From China, 10-11 c CE.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:46 am

If you see an enlargement of the Hercules figure with the bow you will realise that it is actually a very good drawing of a Scythian style bow with uneven limbs. The Greek vase painters knew about foreshortening even if they rarely used it.

For many years, until the discovery of the bows in Xinjiang, people thought the vase painters were either confused by perspective or painting bows that had gone out shape because of poor storage.

Because Hercules' hand is on the grip, the set-back is not emphasised, but if you can look closely you will see it.