Archers
Concept by Przemysław Jastrząb, collaboration Kasper Helbin. Authors will be grateful for any comments, corrections and suggestions [email protected]
"Adam"
The invention of the bow appeared in Africa (about 70,000 years ago), shortly afterwards it became –
besides a hunting tool – also a weapon, as evidenced by cave paintings in the Spanish cave Cueva del Roure near Morella la Vella near Valencia.
Ismael
Biblical archer, appears in the Book of Genesis of the Old Testament, and in the Quran he is
presented as the first of the prophets of Islam and the forefather of all Arabs,
the eldest son of patriarch Abraham, exiled by his father for mocking his brother Isaac to
the desert, where he grew up and became a good archer.
Artemis
Artemis (Greek Artemis, Latin Diana) is the goddess of hunting, nature, fertility; in art
she was depicted with a bow and quiver with arrows. The Slavic equivalent
was Dziewanna, first mentioned in the 15th century by Jan Długosz.
Cupid
Roman god of love Amor (Greek Eros), depicted as a winged handsome
young man with a bow and arrow, which he aims at lovers to unite them; in
later times more often shown as a chubby infant and called
Cupid.
Toxotes
Centaur Toxotes according to Greek myth was transferred among the stars and created
the constellation Sagittarius. The same name was used in the armies of ancient Greeks
for light infantry, whose main weapon was the bow.
Houyi
Houyi (or Yi) is a figure from Chinese mythology, a perfect archer, husband of the Moon goddess
Chang'e. According to the most popular myth, when once ten suns rose in the sky
at the same time, he shot down nine of them with his bow so that from then on only one
shines in the sky.
Minamoto
Minamoto no Tametomo (1139-1170) was a Japanese samurai, but also a partially
legendary figure. Supposedly he sank an entire ship with one arrow, and his left arm was
15 cm longer than his right, which allowed him to draw the bow longer and shoot
more powerful shots.
Genghis
Genghis Khan (1162-1227) after conquering Beijing and defeating Russo-Cuman armies
began the Mongol march towards Europe – armies composed of warriors on horses, each
of whom led 5-6 horses and was equipped with 2 bows and 3 quivers full of arrows,
spreading terror they passed not far from here heading to the battlefield near Legnica in 1241.
Robin
Robin Hood, legendary defender of the oppressed in England, who together with companions
lived in Sherwood Forest and fought against the despotic sheriff of
Nottingham. Robin Hode, a tenant of the Archbishop of York, outlawed in 1225,
is considered the most probable prototype of the hero.
Wilhelm
Wilhelm Tell (13th/14th century), legendary Swiss national hero from the canton of Uri,
was forced to shoot with a crossbow (or bow) at an apple placed on the head
of his own son, his disobedience encouraged the population to revolt, which formed
the foundation of the Swiss Confederation.
Atlahua
Atlahua, Aztec god of water, fisherman and archer. The Aztecs prayed to him when
death occurred in water, e.g. during the conquest of Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City)
by Hernan Cortez.
Horace
Horace A. Ford (1822-1880), the most outstanding British archer and one of the best
archers of all time, author of an archery manual from 1856, which
popularized archery as a sport. From 1849 he won 11 consecutive
championship titles, and the record he set lasted over 70 years.
Ishi
Ishi (1861-1916), probably the last known member of the Yana people from the Yahi tribe
inhabiting California, at the age of 50 was "discovered by Western civilization"
and studied at the University of Berkeley, we owe him knowledge about the life
of hunters and gatherers and learning the technology of making bows and arrows of North American Indians.
Hubert
Hubert Van Innis (1866-1961), Belgian archer, architect by education, multiple
Olympic medalist (6 gold and 4 silver medals), even though he only competed in Paris
(1900) and Antwerp (1920) - however, more archery competitions were held then,
e.g. one in which contestants shot at a target placed at a height of 28 meters.
Howard
Howard Hill (1899-1975), American archer and actor, set a record for the number
of field tournaments won with a bow (196!), was a stunt performer and
technical advisor for archery in Hollywood, appeared in films documenting his
hunting expeditions with a bow.
Janina
Janina Kurkowska-Spychajowa (1901-1979), Polish archer, 38-time world
champion, multiple Polish record holder. Winner of the largest number (64!) of medals in
world championships in the history of world archery. During World War II in
1944 she was deported for forced labor in the Third Reich, where she worked in
quarries.
Holles
Holles Wilbur Allen jr. (1909-1979), inventor of the compound bow (which was created in
response to increased demand for bow hunting in the USA),
also became their first manufacturer.
Thorgal
Thorgal Aegirsson is a phenomenal archer, the main character of a
French-language comic book series, created in 1977 by Belgian
screenwriter Jean Van Hamme and Polish artist Grzegorz Rosiński,
continued by other artists to this day.
An San
An San (born 2001), South Korean archer, triple Olympic champion from
Tokyo 2021 (individually, in team and mixed), as the first she won 3 gold
medals in the post-war history of the Olympic Games.
Translated by