Greek athletic sports and festivals (1910) (14767117691)

Identifier: greekathleticspo00gard (find matches)
Title: Greek athletic sports and festivals
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Gardiner, E. Norman (Edward Norman), 1864-1930
Subjects: Athletics Sports Olympics Fasts and feasts
Publisher: London : Macmillan and Co.
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University



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f theirwanderings was carried throughout the southern and westernportions of the Continent. The fixed amentum does not a^^pear to be known outsideEurope, but somewhat similar contrivances exist to-day amongsavage tribes. Such is the ounep used by the people of NewCaledonia and the New Hebrides. It is a thickish cord, 6 or8 inches long, with a loop at one end and a knot at theother. The spears are 9 to 12 feet long, with a slightprojection just behind the centre of gravity, behind which thecord is placed and twisted over the knot in such a way as to XVI THE JAVELIN—THROWING-THONGS 345 untie iis the spear is thrown, remaining itself in the throwershand. Examples of it can be seen in the EthnographicalGallery of the British Museum, and, our illustration is taken froma drawing exhibited there (Fig. 95). A combination of thisthong with the throwing-stick is found in New Zealand. Thethrowing-stick is by far the commonest contrivance forincreasing the throw of a spear. It is widely used in
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Fi(j. 9(3.—R.-f. psykter. Bourguignou Coll. Australia, Melanesia, Central America, and among the Eskimos,but is unknown in Europe, although throwing-sticks made ofbone appear to have been used by Palaeolithic man in France. The working of the amentum can be easily understood fromour illustration. In preparing for an overhand throw the spearrests on the web between the thumb and fingers, but is reallyheld by the two fingers inserted in the loop and projecting 346 GREEK ATHLETIC SPORTS AND FESTIVALS CHAP. above the shaft. At the moment of throw the position isreversed ; the pull on the amentum gives a half-turn to theshaft, and the javelin is held only by the amentum, the fingersbeing below the shaft. The action of the amentum is similarto that of the rifling of a gun. By imparting a rotatorymovement to the missile it not only helps it to keep itsdirection but also increases its carry and penetrating power.The carry is further increased by the additional leverage given tothe throwers