170 ANCIENT AND MODERN METHODS 



the earlier reign, the arrows are shown with larger nocks 

 and the barbs, long and narrow, with their outer edges gen- 

 erally parallel to the shaft. The nock end of the arrow 

 is bulbous, as before remarked; and if this is correctly 

 represented it would settle the question as to the primary 

 release being the one intended. In the later slabs, the 

 arrow has shorter barbs, with the feathers tapering forward 

 towards the point, and the nock end of the arrow is not 

 bulbous. 



A more careful study than I was able to give to these 

 sculptures may probably modify the general statements 

 here made concerning the variations in time of the bow 

 and arrow. 



Concerning the practice of archery among the ancient 

 Egyptians, Wilkinson in his classical work mentions only 

 two forms of release. He says their mode of drawing the 

 bow was either with the thumb and forefinger or with the 

 first and second fingers. 1 Rawlinson makes the same state- 

 ment. 2 These two forms as defined by these authors 

 would be the primary and Mediterranean releases. 



If the representations of the drawings and frescos in 

 ancient Egyptian tombs, as given by Rosallini, Lepsius, 

 and others, are to be relied on, then the ancient Egyptians 

 practiced at least three, and possibly four, definite and 

 distinct methods of release. 



That many of the releases depicted in these old sculpt- 

 ures and frescos are conventional simply, there can be no 

 doubt ; indeed, some of the releases are plainly impossible, 

 notably that form which shows the archer daintily draw- 

 ing back a stiff bow with the extreme tips of the first two 

 fingers and thumb. Again, the figure of Rameses II. (see 



1 Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians, 2nd series, Vol. I., p. 207. 

 'History of Ancient Egypt, Vol. I., p. 474. 



