Ancient Javelin Throwing

Developed and cultivated as a hand-thrown projectile weapon, the javelin was a popular armament in the ancient world. Deriving from the French "javeline", meaning short spear, the javelin achieved prominence on the battlefield in the centuries prior to the medieval period. Commonly used as a skirmishing weapon for quick, strategic strikes during warfare, javelin throwing was a common fixture in ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian armies.

  1. History

    • The oldest surviving javelins were discovered in Schoningen, Germany and date back over 400,000 years. Evolved from the much longer spear -- considered among the first weapons and hunting tools utilized by primitive man--early javelins are thought to have been used primarily for hunting purposes. As civilizations began to form in the Greek Islands, Egypt and the Fertile Crescent, thrown javelins used for hunting, sporting and combat purposes became increasingly common.

    Evolution

    • While the earliest javelins were made entirely of wood with a sharpened point at the end, technological advances in weaponry led to more durable and deadly javelin constructions. By the second century BCE the Greeks and Romans began inserting iron tips to the edge of their javelins, ensuring a longer lifespan and a more damaging attack.

    Throwing a Javelin

    • While the types, lengths and styles of javelins in the ancient world varied from army to army, the basic mechanics of throwing the projectile was similar. Throwers would position their stance with their dominant hand on the javelin, stepping their opposite foot two to three feet in front of their dominant foot. The thrower would then proceed to draw back the javelin behind their head until elbow was pointing straight up at roughly the same elevation as their head. Thrusting the arm forward in a downward arc, the thrower releases the javelin just as the tip of the weapon becomes parallel to the ground.

    Greek Javelin Throwing

    • Serving as the backbone to the Greek Army, Peltasts, or footmen skirmishers, were armed with several javelins. Typically used in opposition to heavier troops, such as enemy Hoplites, Peltasts would aim their javelins so as to take down key areas of unit formation in order to break enemy lines. Lightly-armored, and well-suited for hit and run attacks, Peltasts utilized throwing javelins to provide a strategic advantage for infantry and cavalry soldiers.

    Roman Javelin Throwing

    • Finely carved and precisely weighted, the Roman version of the ancient javelin--called a pilum--was the primary weapon of the Roman Legionnaire before his sword. Designed for a throwing distance of up to 33 yards, the pilum received a similar place in the Roman army as a skirmish weapon, used in hit and run attacks, as well as for flanking enemy formations. The pilum remained a steadfast weapon in the Roman army for years to come, eventually outlasting spears as an infantry weapon.