Indo-European Poetry and Myth

Archers

Although archery does not play a large part in Homer, we are able to observe a
number of common features between its treatment there and in Indian
poetry (and occasionally elsewhere). Arrows are characterized as ‘winged’,
parn
̇

ina- (RV 6. 46. 11, MBh. 8. 18. 18), πτερο ́ ει (Il. 4. 117, al.). They ‘fly’,
patayanti (RV 6. 46. 11, 75. 11, 16), patənti (Yt. 10. 129), #πτατο (Il. 5. 99,
al.).^107 Bows are ‘shining’,rucira- (MBh. 3. 116. 24, 266. 12), φαδιμα (Hymn.
Ap. 4). There are great bows which, like Odysseus’, only an exceptional hero
can draw (MBh. 3. 13. 69; Rm. 1. 30. 7–12).
Readers of the Iliad will remember the curious archery contest in the
funeral games for Patroclus, when a ship’s mast is set up on the sands and a
live bird is tied to its top as the target (23. 850–83). Dron
̇

a’s archery test in
MBh. 1. 123. 45–66 is more considerate of animal rights but takes a similar
form. The target is an artificial bird attached to a treetop where it is hardly
visible. Arjuna succeeds in decapitating it.
As the warrior goes to battle, the quiver rattles on his back (RV 6. 75. 5; Il. 1.
46). As he draws his bow, it is bent into a circle, κυκλοτερ (Il. 4. 124),
man
̇

d

̇

ala-, man

̇

d

̇

alı ̄kr

̇

ta- (MBh. 1. 123. 60; 6. 104. 35; 7. 96. 5, 135. 41; 8. 15. 27,
etc.; Rm. 3. 24. 15, al.). As he takes aim, he prays to the god of archery (Il. 4.
119–21, 23. 872 f.; Rm. 6. 78. 29ff.). As he shoots, the bow twangs (Il. 4. 125
λγξε βιο ́ ;MBh. 4. 40. 25; 7. 145. 44–6; 14. 76. 26; the earth trembles at the
twang of Ra ̄ma’s bow, Rm. 4. 35. 9).
But it is easily disabled by a blow. Teucer has one bowstring broken when
Hector hits it with a rock, and another when Zeus himself snaps it as he is
preparing to shoot Hector (Il. 8. 328, 15. 463). In the Maha ̄bha ̄rata bows are
constantly being severed by super-accurate counter-fire (e.g. 5. 180. 26 f.). A
similar incident is described by Saxo (6. 4. 9 p. 149). As Biorno is setting an
arrow to his bowstring, three shots from Ano arrive: one severs the cord, one
buries itself in his knuckles, the third hits his arrow.

Chariots

Chariots too are vulnerable. The shafts are liable to get broken (Il. 6. 39 f., 16.
370 f., MBh. 5. 182. 14; 6. 44. 5, 67. 37; cf. Táin 680, 866). The charioteer
may be killed (Il. 5. 580, 8. 119–23, 312 f., 11. 161 f., 13. 396–9, 15. 451, 16.
737, 17. 610–19; MBh. 5. 183. 3ff.), which may result in the horses bolting

(^107) Spears too ‘fly’, at least in Greek and Old English: Il. 5. 282, 20. 88; Maldon 109, 150;
Elene 140.

12. Arms and the Man 485