AKONTISTAI. 205 
it was held horizontally.!. Only the former type is represented in 
illustrations of purely athletic competitions, the latter type referring to 
illustrations of the practical use of javelin-throwing, 7. ¢., in war or 
in the chase. Vase-paintings of palestra scenes almost invariably 
show javelins with blunt points; the throwers’ heads are frequently 
turned back before the throw, and there is no sign of any target. On 
vase-paintings, however, which represent practical javelin-throwing 
from horseback, the javelins are pointed. This proves that in athletic 
contests the throw was for distance and not at a mark.2 The javelin 
used in Greek games had several names, d&kwv, axdvtioy, etc.2 It was 
about the height of a man, as we know from its appearance on a Spar- 
tan relief,4 and from many vase-paintings representing palestra scenes 
(Fig.44). It was thrown by means of athong (dyin, Lat. amentum), 
which was fastened near the centre and consisted of a detachable 
leathern strip from 12 to 18 inches long. This was bound tight, with 
a loop left, into which the thrower inserted his first and middle fingers.® 
The method of casting is seen on many vases.® Gardiner has analyzed 
three different positions from vase-paintings. Usually the throw was 
made with a short run, though standing throws are also pictured.’ 
First the thrower extends the right arm back to its full length and, with 
the left hand opposite the right breast, holds the end of the spear and 

1The javelin is held horizontally by the warrior on the interior of a b.-f. kylix in the British 
Museum: B. M. Vases, B 380; J. H.S., XXVII, p. 252, fig. 2; Gardiner, p. 342, fig. 93. It was com- 
monly held slopingly over the shoulder level with the head in representations of the athletic style; 
é. g., the second athlete from the left in the sixth-century B.C. b.-f. Panathenaic amphora in the 
British Museum (Fig. 44): B. M. Vases, B 134; cf. also a similar figure on the sixth-century 
B. C. amphorain Leyden: 4. Z., XX XIX, 1881, Pl. [X; Gardiner, p. 361, fig. 108. 
2At Athens as early as the fifth century B. C. there were practical javelin contests from horse- 
back with a target, and such contests kept up in Thessaly to the time of Hadrian: Gardiner, 
pp. 356-8. Throwing the javelin at a target from horseback is seen on a Panathenaic 
amphora in the British Museum: Gardiner, p. 357, fig. 106; J. H. S., XXVII, Pl. XX. Pindar 
mentions javelin-throwing three times, and in each case the throw was for distance: Nem., VII, 
70-1; Isthm., I], 35; Pyth., 1,44. Lucian, in a passage referring to the pentathlon at Olympia, 
says that athletes competed for distance: Anacharsis, 27. Onthis question, see Juethner, pp. 54 f. 
3Hesychios calls it azorouds, 5. v.; see also Pollux, X, 64. 
“y~7., Ll, 1883, Pl: XIII, 2, and cf. p. 228 (Milchhoefer). 
5See Juethner, figs. 34, 35, 36 on pp. 40-41 (representing akontistai holding the javelin in one 
hand and the amentum in the other). Fastening the thong is commonly depicted on vases: é. g., 
a youth seated on the ground attaching the amenium is pictured on a r.-f. hydriain the British 
Museum: B. M. Vases, E 164; J. H. S., XXVII, p. 32, fig. 25; Gardiner, p. 334, fig. 88; B.C. H., 
XXIII, 1899, p. 164, fig. 3; on ar.-f. kylix in Wuerzburg (no. 432), a youth is seen winding the 
amentum around the akontion, drawing one end of the thong tight by means of his left foot: 
Juethner, p. 42, fig. 37; Gardiner, p. 340, fig. 91; Dar.-Sagl., III, 1, p. 599, fig. 4116; Hoppin, Hdk. 
Attic r.-f. Vases, I, p.93,no.7. Onar.-f. amphora from Vulci attributed to Euthymides, and now 
in the British Museum, we see an akontistes holding the spear pointed to the ground and drawing 
the amentum tight preparatory to the throw: B. M. Vases, E 256; J. H. S., XXVII, Pl. XIX; 
Gardiner, p. 348, fig. 99; Hoppin, Euthymides and his Fellows, p. 49, Pls. IX, XI; id., Hbk., I, 
pp. 442-3, no. 19. For the various methods of attaching the amentum, see collection of draw- 
ings from vases in Gardiner, p. 341, fig. 92=/. H. S., XXVII, p. 250, fig. 1. 
8See J. H. S., XXVII, pp. 262 f.; Gardiner, pp. 350 f. 
7E. g.,on ar.-f. kylix in Rome: J. H. S., XXVII, p. 266, fig. 14; Gardiner, p. 354, fig. 104; 
Juethner, p. 48, fig. 43. 
