Modern-day archery owes homage to the Robin Hood legend, according to the Olympic Dictionary

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Friday, 16th July 2021

The archery abilities of Robin Hood have been romanticised in legends passed down through the generations. Modern competition archery bears homage to a legend about a legendary marksman known as "Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow."

According to legend, Robin of Locksley is competing in an archery tournament for a golden arrow. His opponent's final shot lands on target. As Robin approaches the target for his final shot, he, too, hits the bulls-eye, splitting the opponent's arrow that had already hit the target. It's a feat that was dramatised and depicted in the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, released in 1991.

It's a feat that was dramatised and depicted in the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, released in 1991.

Modern-day archers compete for gold in a Robin Hood-like fashion. Archerypassion.com estimates that each shot has a 1 in 4,000 chance of being a "Robin Hood" shot. That's how difficult it is, especially when the target, which is 122 centimetres in diameter and includes a 12.2 centimetre 10-point ring, is 70 metres away. There's also the issue of wind and weather to consider.

A different tale of ‘Robin Hood' suggests that he never actually split an arrow. The arrow-splitting narrative, according to historian Thomas Ohlgren, who specialises in Robin Hood manuscripts, was a misinterpretation, according to Slate Magazine. Robin Hood's associates would instead lay a 'wand' (a tiny stick) on a platform that would split when an arrow was shot through it.

A different tale of ‘Robin Hood' suggests that he never actually split an arrow. The arrow-splitting narrative, according to historian Thomas Ohlgren, who specialises in Robin Hood manuscripts, was a misinterpretation, according to Slate Magazine. Robin Hood's associates would instead lay a 'wand' (a tiny stick) on a platform that would split when an arrow was shot through it.

Whether true or not, the myth of the splitting arrow has persisted in legend. And it's the most coveted – and rarest of all – achievement in the sport.

Fishtailing

During its 70-meter journey from the bow to the target, the arrow is exposed to a variety of external factors. The wind is the most crucial of them all. There are specified terms for an arrow's trajectory in World Archery's "glossary of terminologies." Surprisingly, they're based on sea creatures. Fishtailing refers to the arrow's sideways movement as it moves forward. The phrase comes from the side-flapping movement that fish employ to propel themselves ahead with their tails.

Porpoising

The alternative phrase is derived from the word porpoise, which refers to a type of whale. The mammal propels itself forward by flapping its tail, similar to fish. Porpoises, on the other hand, are whales that look like dolphins and have horizontal tail fins (as opposed to vertical fins in fish). Porpoises accomplish this by flapping their tails up and down. The up-and-down movement of an arrow in flight has been dubbed "porpoising" because of this tail movement.

The News Talkie Bureau

Source

The Indian Express