Mounted Archers from Budapest's past from Scythians to Ottomans
VIRTUAL EXHIBITION
The material of our successful exhibition is available as a virtual exhibition by clicking on the image below!
Joint exhibition of the BTM Castle Museum and the Hungarian Historical Archery Society
Curators: János B. Szabó historian and Balázs Sudár historian
Curators: János B. Szabó historian and Balázs Sudár historian
Organized in cooperation with the Hungarian Historical Archery Society, the Budapest History Museum’s Castle Museum opened its new temporary exhibition on the history of the recurve bow on 31 July 2020. In addition to presenting the making and types of this game-changing weapon used by mounted archers, the exhibition also gives a concise introduction to the archery styles of the 7 peoples (Scythians, Huns, Avars, Hungarians, Cumans, Mongols and Ottomans) who wandered the road of the Great Steppe, and then arrived and settled in the Carpathian Basin between the 8th century BC to the 17th century AD.
One of the most effective weapons of the equestrian nomadic peoples, who settled for a shorter or a longer period in the area of today’s Budapest from the antiquity to early modern times, was the bow. Archaeologists frequently dig up archery-related artefacts. There are flint arrowheads from the Stone Age and bronze arrowheads placed in Scythian graves as part of the funeral rites. Remains from the eastern-type archery of the Roman army; Avar and Hungarian bow plates, stiffener plates and iron mounts of quivers from graves, the bone tip of a Mongol arrow from Buda Castle, Ottoman thumb rings broken during use from the rubble of 17th-century sieges… A myriad of tiny signs that add up to reveal the rich archery culture of the past.
The exhibition also covers the cultural-historical process, during which – with the development of historical science, as well as the discovery and the science-based, authentic interpretation of archaeological finds – the fact that the conquering Hungarians were mounted archers gradually became well-known. At the same time, it dispels misconceptions: an example of this is the view that traditional horseback archery has faded into oblivion after the founding of the Christian state. This was not the case: Hungarian soldiers maintained the use of the recurve bow both for hunting and in battle.
The rediscovery of the bow of the Hungarian conquerors is a true success story. Historians, archaeologists, craftspeople and archers themselves have helped each other in everything from making technical discoveries to breaking world records in Hungary as well as abroad. The recurve bow became one of the symbols of the conquering Hungarians and thus of the conquest, and, at the same time, a part of the national image of Hungary.
In addition to historical data as well as curiosities, the exhibition also provides interactive points where brave, experimental visitors can try out a variety of bow grips, “horseback” archery (‘Try to “shoot” the bullseye!’), and even a 17th-century Ottoman “exercise machine”.
Please note that in order to properly ensure the protection of the exhibited artifcats, we need to provide a temperature of around 20°C in the exhibition rooms. Please wear appropriate clothing when visiting the exhibition. Thank you for your understanding!
One of the most effective weapons of the equestrian nomadic peoples, who settled for a shorter or a longer period in the area of today’s Budapest from the antiquity to early modern times, was the bow. Archaeologists frequently dig up archery-related artefacts. There are flint arrowheads from the Stone Age and bronze arrowheads placed in Scythian graves as part of the funeral rites. Remains from the eastern-type archery of the Roman army; Avar and Hungarian bow plates, stiffener plates and iron mounts of quivers from graves, the bone tip of a Mongol arrow from Buda Castle, Ottoman thumb rings broken during use from the rubble of 17th-century sieges… A myriad of tiny signs that add up to reveal the rich archery culture of the past.
The exhibition also covers the cultural-historical process, during which – with the development of historical science, as well as the discovery and the science-based, authentic interpretation of archaeological finds – the fact that the conquering Hungarians were mounted archers gradually became well-known. At the same time, it dispels misconceptions: an example of this is the view that traditional horseback archery has faded into oblivion after the founding of the Christian state. This was not the case: Hungarian soldiers maintained the use of the recurve bow both for hunting and in battle.
The rediscovery of the bow of the Hungarian conquerors is a true success story. Historians, archaeologists, craftspeople and archers themselves have helped each other in everything from making technical discoveries to breaking world records in Hungary as well as abroad. The recurve bow became one of the symbols of the conquering Hungarians and thus of the conquest, and, at the same time, a part of the national image of Hungary.
In addition to historical data as well as curiosities, the exhibition also provides interactive points where brave, experimental visitors can try out a variety of bow grips, “horseback” archery (‘Try to “shoot” the bullseye!’), and even a 17th-century Ottoman “exercise machine”.
Please note that in order to properly ensure the protection of the exhibited artifcats, we need to provide a temperature of around 20°C in the exhibition rooms. Please wear appropriate clothing when visiting the exhibition. Thank you for your understanding!
THE EXHIBITION WITH THE EYES OF THE CURATOR
