OF ARROW-RELEASE. 181 



The accompanying figures -are interesting as showing the 

 conventional and even grotesque ways in which the arrow 

 release is often represented on early Grecian vases. Figs. 

 47 and 48 are copied from Weiner Vorlage Blatter, Series 

 D, Taf. IX, XII. Fig. 47 shows the hand reversed, with 

 the thumb below instead of above. It is possible to shoot 

 an arrow in this way but hardly probable that so awkward 

 and unnatural an attitude would be taken. This release 

 is intended to represent the tertiary release. Fig. 48 as 

 drawn is an impossible release, though this release also 

 may be intended to represent the tertiary release, the 

 thumb being straight, and the arrow being held between 



Fig. 49. Grecian. Fig. 50. Grecian. 



the thumb and forefinger, while the second finger, and in 

 Fig. 48 the second, third, and fourth fingers are on the 

 string. 



In Monuments Inedits., Vol. i., Plate LI., is figured the 

 famous Chalcidian or Achilles vase, supposed to have been 

 made in the early part of the sixth century B. C. Here 

 the archer is shown left-handed. Assuming the drawing 

 to be correct, the release represents the archaic form 

 (Fig. 49). 



Another release figured in the same volume, Plate xx., 

 may be intended to represent the tertiary release (see 

 Fig. 50). On Plate L., Vol. n., of the same work is fig- 



