The Sassanian ( Sassanid , Saasaani ) draw

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:18 pm

Zarasp; Several years ago I visited Hazorasp town in Khorezm province of Uzbekistan. Cannot help but notice the similarity of names. Not so far from your homeland. Jack

Uli · Post by **Uli** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:33 am

Here is picutures I found

1.) Sculpture showing Parthian Horse Archer, Iran, 1-3 Century AD
note arrows in bow hand

2.) Silver Bowl showing Persian Lion Hunter, Iran, 3-4 Century AD
note "Sassanid" Draw

Uli

Zoran Pavlovic · Post by **Zoran Pavlovic** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:31 am

Hi Uli,
Second Sassanide plate is similar to that one of king Peroz-Firuz hunting scene but this scene shows hunting the lion..Do you have more informations about this bowl, i didn't see this one till now?.Hm, same way of drawing the bow as Bede shown, different than Zarasp, so seems it was 2 ways of Sassanid release...
Pozdrav,

Zarasp · Post by **Zarasp** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 10:02 am

i saw this image recently, in a presentation being made ready for Korean competition in Sokcho & i should say that this particular Sassanid plate is an extremely important figure! this is the ONLY one we have that shows the arrow in front of the face & proves that the index finger is sitting on the arrow.

& as Zoran mentioned this is the same draw that Bede showed earlier.

also i should say that although My traditional draw looks similar to this, it is a variation & i wouldnt call it Sassanid, until we have historical proof that it was used in Sassanid times.

Thanx Uli!

edit: and thanx Jack Farrel, (how did i miss your post?)
very interesting, i will look into it, a town that has my name in it, XvaZarasp .

Zoran Pavlovic · Post by **Zoran Pavlovic** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 2:46 pm

Zarasp,

I commented your release (almost) identical as in this Sassanid plate

http://atarn.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2073

This one inserted by Uli shown ''Bede's release''. So i get conclusion about 2 sort of releases by Sassanids. I hope that your team will develop and confirm it.
Wish you luck.
Best regards,

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:55 am

Note the bow is asymmetric and in the style of the Hunns (of Central Asia).

Zarasp · Post by **Zarasp** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:36 am

Thank you Zoran & Jack,

yes the bow is an asymmetric "hun Style" with a long draw that some think is an exaggeration,

maybe its not my place to say if its possible or not for bow limbs of that style to be almost parallel to the ground while at full draw, but i like to think it is.

i hope that someday we will see this kind of draw, horsemanship & bow once again in use.

for me it is sad to see that at the moment the Iranian horseback archery team, uses slow cantering horses with thumb or a modified Hungarian version.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:57 am

There are some Parthian ivories excavated at Shami showing a three finger draw.

Some of the Sasanian plates do not show the arrows clearly and others show it scratched in as an afterthought.

Zarasp · Post by **Zarasp** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:05 am

Bede wrote:There are some Parthian ivories excavated at Shami showing a three finger draw.

wow, any pictures?

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:31 am

The only ones I have are copyright protected, but I will find out where they come from and see what we can display.