OF AEROW-KELEASE. 



171 



Wilkinson, Vol. I., p. 307), which shows the bow vertical 

 while the shaft-hand is inverted, that is, with palm upper- 

 most, is an equally impossible attitude. Other releases 

 identity themselves clearly with forms already described, 

 and with slight latitude in the interpretation of the con- 

 ventional forms we may identify these as belonging to 

 known types. 



The earliest releases are those depicted on the tombs of 

 Beni Hassan of the time of Usurtasen L, Avhich according 



Fig. 31. Early Egyptian. 



to the conservative chronology of Professor Lepsius dates 

 2380 B.C. Here the Mediterranean release is unmistak- 

 ably shown. The following figure (Fig. 31) from these 

 tombs, copied from Rosallini's great work, indicates this 

 form of release in the clearest manner. In these figures 

 it is interesting to observe that the arrow is drawn to the 

 ear, and also that the archers are represented as shootin<' 

 with the left as well as with the right hand. 



Makingastride of over a thousandyears and coming down 

 to the time of Seti I. ( 1259 B.C.), we have represented a 

 release as well as a mode of drawing the arrow al)ovo and 



