BOWS AND ARROWS. These weapons were used for distant attack and for hunting. Bows are differentiated into two classes: Sim ple and composite, according to whether they are composed of one piece or made up of sev eral parts or pieces. The history of bows and arrows dates back to prehistoric times and their use can be termed universal. In modern nomenclature bows made of a single piece have been termed when con structed by gluing several strips together they are known as bows. True African bows are of the simple kind as are also those in South America. The composite bow belongs to Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America and to the Arctic dwellers.
The bow of ancient Greece was composed of two curved ibex horns jointed together by a straight handle-piece. The Romans did not arm their soldiery with bows but they employed the notedly expert Cretan archers as auxiliary troops. Bows were used by the ancient As syrians and Chaldeans and Egypt shows her archers in Thebes bas-relief. The Syrians, Huns and Partitions used bows, but Franks, Germans, Goths held the bow and arrow in low esteem for defense. As Mohammed raised the use of bows and arrows to a religious duty, it became the favored defensive and offensive weapon of the Persians, Turks and Arabs. See ARMS.
In the Middle Ages Europeans, in general, used the bow mostly for the chase. But with the English the long-bow has ever been a favorite weapon of the soldiery. The English archers were one of the most effective forces, with their long-bows, in the successful cam paign in northern France. The English long bow was formed of yew and was five feet in length, having a range of 240 yards, discharg ing sharp, barbed arrows. Twelve shots a
minute was the usual expert's speed. They used on the forearm to protect from injury by the bow-string. The maker of ar rows (arrowsmith) for the army was known as a Fletcher, from which trade arose the family name.
The material from which bows were made varied with regional conditions. In the far North most bows are of birch and pine com bined. Turkish-Indian bow construction was of layers of wood, horn and sinew attached' firmly together. Some bows have been found made entirely of whalebone.
One of the constellations is known as Sa gitta (the arrow). The zodiacal sign Sagit tarius is an archer. In ancient mythology the bow is Apollo's and Diana's weapon. In art Cupid is ever armed with a bow and quiver of arrows. In Christian art the arrow is sym bol of pestilence, death and destruction; it is the attribute of the saints Sebastian, Ursula and Christian. In ceramics a bow is one of the marks of the Bow porcelain factory.
Bulanda, Edmund, 'Bogen und Pfeil bei den Voelkern des Alterthum0 (Vienna 1913); Karutz, R 'Die afrikanischen Bogen, Pfeile und Kocher im Liibecker Museum' (in Llibeck-Mus. Festschrift 1900); Luschan, Felix von, 'Ueber den antiken Bo gen' (in Festschrift fgt. Otto Bendorf 1808) ; Mason, Otis Tuften, 'North American Bows, Arrows and Quivers> (in Smithsonian Inst. Report, 1893, i Washington, D. C., 1894); Meyer, Hermann, and Arrows in Central Bra zil' (in Smithsonian Inst. Report, 1896, Wash ington, D. C., 1898); Tregear, Edward, 'The Polynesian Bow> (in Smithsonian Inst. Report, 1892, Washington, D. C., 1893).