Bows: Difference between revisions

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==Overview==
==Overview==
Bows varied in shape, size and material. While [[Elves|elven]] flawless bows were made from wood, [[Númenóreans|Numenorean]] bows were made of hollow steel, forged in armories.<ref>{{UT|3}}, p. 170</ref> It is said in a poem that [[Eärendil]] wielded a bow "made of dragon-horn".<ref>{{FR|Earendil}}</ref>
Bows varied in shape, size and material. While [[Elves|elven]] flawless bows were made from wood, [[Númenóreans|Numenorean]] bows were made of hollow steel, forged in armories.<ref name=Numenor>{{UT|Numenor}}, at the beginning of the chapter</ref> It is said in a poem that [[Eärendil]] wielded a bow "made of dragon-horn".<ref>{{FR|Earendil}}</ref>


==Bows by Faction==
==Bows by Faction==
*'''[[Elves]]''' of [[Doriath]] and [[Lothlórien]] used longbows which were, as their name suggests, longer bows which could shoot farther and higher than any other types of bows. Elves were the first race to develop and master the use of bows, and later passed their knowledge to [[Men]].
*'''[[Elves]]''' of [[Doriath]] and [[Lothlórien]] used longbows which were, as their name suggests, longer bows which could shoot farther and higher than any other types of bows. Elves were the first race to develop and master the use of bows, and later passed their knowledge to [[Men]].


*'''[[Númenóreans]]''' used a type of bow called the steel-bow, which was made of hollow steel, as its name implies. It was used to shoot black-feathered arrows that were a full ell long from point to notch.<ref>{{UT|Numenor}}, at the beginning of the chapter</ref> It was much feared by their enemies.<ref>{{UT|Gladden}}, towards the end of the first half of the chapter</ref>
*'''[[Númenóreans]]''' used a type of bow called the steel-bow, which was made of hollow steel, as its name implies. It was used to shoot black-feathered arrows that were a full ell long from point to notch.<ref name=Numenor/> It was much feared by their enemies.<ref>{{UT|Gladden}}, towards the end of the first half of the chapter</ref>


* The '''[[Gondorians|Gondorian]]''' army contains units of archers who use a longbow. The bows are made of heartwood, about 68 inches tall. The arrows are about 28 inches long with four-inch steel tips. They're accurate up to 200 yards. The longbowmen of the army wear their quiver (the case that holds the arrows) on their hips rather than on their backs like most archers. Bows were also the primary weapon of the [[Rangers of Ithilien]].<ref>{{HM|TT}}</ref>
* The '''[[Gondorians|Gondorian]]''' army contains units of archers who use a longbow. The bows are made of heartwood, about 68 inches tall. The arrows are about 28 inches long with four-inch steel tips. They're accurate up to 200 yards. The longbowmen of the army wear their quiver (the case that holds the arrows) on their hips rather than on their backs like most archers. Bows were also the primary weapon of the [[Rangers of Ithilien]].<ref>{{HM|TT}}</ref>

Revision as of 13:56, 17 January 2021

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
 This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.
John Howe - Elven Bow

Bows were a common weapon in Arda. All peoples, Good and Evil, were known to have used them, most notable of them being the Elves, the Númenóreans, Rohirrim, Orcs and even Hobbits.[1]

Overview

Bows varied in shape, size and material. While elven flawless bows were made from wood, Numenorean bows were made of hollow steel, forged in armories.[2] It is said in a poem that Eärendil wielded a bow "made of dragon-horn".[3]

Bows by Faction

  • Elves of Doriath and Lothlórien used longbows which were, as their name suggests, longer bows which could shoot farther and higher than any other types of bows. Elves were the first race to develop and master the use of bows, and later passed their knowledge to Men.
  • Númenóreans used a type of bow called the steel-bow, which was made of hollow steel, as its name implies. It was used to shoot black-feathered arrows that were a full ell long from point to notch.[2] It was much feared by their enemies.[4]
  • The Gondorian army contains units of archers who use a longbow. The bows are made of heartwood, about 68 inches tall. The arrows are about 28 inches long with four-inch steel tips. They're accurate up to 200 yards. The longbowmen of the army wear their quiver (the case that holds the arrows) on their hips rather than on their backs like most archers. Bows were also the primary weapon of the Rangers of Ithilien.[5]
  • Rohirrim archers used shortbows, possibly because they fought mounted on horses. The shortbows were much less powerful than those used by other Men, having a range of only 125 yards.
  • Dwarves used bows less prominently than the other races, but had them among their military weapons. Dwarven bows were shortbows made of horn, or of a composite build, using horn and wood. Thorin Oakenshield used a bow to threaten the Mirkwood Elves and the Men of Dale when he was reluctant to part with the treasures of Erebor. [8]
  • Orcs used bows for hunting, as well as weapons of war. Orcs primarily used bows that were made of horn, although the Uruk-hai of Isengard were known to use longer bows in the fashion of Men, which were made of yew.[9]

Notable bowmen

In other languages

The forms quinga, ping are cognates deriving from the Primitive Quendian kwingā.[10]

The form cogn, is derived from Primitive Quendian kuȝnā, itself representing the root KUȜ.[11]

Inspirations

It is possible Tolkien's fascination with bows came from Red Indian stories:

"Red Indians were better: there were bows and arrows (I had and have a wholly unsatisfied desire to shoot well with a bow)"
― On Fairy-Stories
"But he [Tolkien] liked Red Indian stories and longed to shoot with a bow and arrow."
― J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

Portrayal in adaptations

2001-2003: The Lord of the Rings (film series):

Bows, just like all weapons from the films, were designed during the pre-production by artists like Warren Mahy, with aid from Alan Lee and John Howe. The majorty of them were hand-crafted by Weta Workshop employees.[12] Races seen using bows include Men, Elves and Orcs.

2012-2014: The Hobbit (film series):

Bows, just like all weapons from the films, were designed during the pre-production by artists like Warren Mahy, with aid from Alan Lee and John Howe. The majorty of them were hand-crafted by Weta Workshop employees.[13] Races seen using bows include Men, Elves, Dwarves and Orcs.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Anthony Burdge, Jessica Burke, "Weapons, Named"; in J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment (edited by Michael D.C. Drout)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "A Description of the Island of Númenor", at the beginning of the chapter
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings", Song of Eärendil
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields", towards the end of the first half of the chapter
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Scouring of the Shire"
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Clouds Burst"
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Departure of Boromir"
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry KWIG (in that source the first word is spelled qinga, and the second is Noldorin.
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry KUȜ, p. 365
  12. ↑ Weta Workshop (featurette)
  13. ↑ Weta Workshop (featurette)
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