Javelin

This article is about the object. For the athletic event, seejavelin throw.For the American missile, seeFGM-148 Javelin.For other uses, seeJavelin (disambiguation).

Man with a shield throwing a javelin

Javelin thrower. Bronze, Laconian style, third quarter of the 6th century BC

Ajavelinis a lightspeardesigned primarily to be thrown, historically as aranged weapon.Today, the javelin is predominantly used for sporting purposes such as theJavelin throw.The javelin is nearly always thrown by hand, unlike thesling,bow,andcrossbow,which launch projectiles with the aid of a hand-held mechanism. However, devices do exist to assist the javelin thrower in achieving greater distances, such asspear-throwersor theamentum.

A warrior or soldier armed primarily with one or more javelins is ajavelineer.

The word javelin comes fromMiddle Englishand it derives fromOld Frenchjavelin,a diminutive ofjavelot,which meant spear. The wordjavelotprobably originated from one of theCeltic languages.

Prehistory

There is archaeological evidence that javelins andthrowing stickswere already in use by the last phase of theLower Paleolithic.Seven spear-like objects were found in a coal mine in the city ofSchöningen,Germany.Stratigraphicdating indicates that the weapons are about 400,000 years old.The excavated items were made ofspruce (Picea)trunk and were between 1.83 and 2.25 metres (6.0 and 7.4 ft) long. They were manufactured with the maximum thickness and weight situated at the front end of the wooden shaft. The frontal centre of gravity suggests that these weapons were used as javelins. A fossilized horse shoulder blade with a projectile wound, dated to 500,000 years ago, was revealed in a gravel quarry in the village ofBoxgrove,England. Studies suggested that the wound was probably caused by a javelin.

Classical age

Agrianian peltast. This peltast holds three javelins, one in his throwing hand and two in hispeltehand as additional ammunition

Ancient Egypt

InHistory of Ancient Egypt:Volume 1 (1882),George Rawlinsondepicts the javelin as an offensive weapon used by theAncient Egyptian military.It was lighter in weight than that used by other nations. He describes the Ancient Egyptian javelin's features:

It consisted of a long thin shaft, sometimes merely pointed, but generally armed with a head, which was either leaf-shaped, or like the head of a spear, or else four-sided, and attached to the shaft by projections at the angles.

A strap or tasseled head was situated at the lower end of the javelin: it allowed the javelin thrower to recover his javelin after throwing it.

Egyptian military trained from a young age in special military schools.Focusing on gymnastics to gain strength, hardiness, and endurance in childhood, they learned to throw the javelin – along with practicingarcheryand the battle-axe – when they grew older, before entering a specific regiment.

Javelins were carried by Egyptian light infantry, as a main weapon, and as an alternative to aboworspear,generally along with ashield.They also carried a curved sword,club,orhatchetas asidearm.An important part in battles is often assigned to javelin-men, "whose weapons seem to inflict death at every blow".

Multiple javelins were also sometimes carried byEgyptian war-chariots,in a quiver and/or bow case.

Beyond its military purpose, the javelin was likely also a hunting instrument, for food and sport.

Ancient Greece

A depiction of a javelin thrower on an ancient Greek vase, ca. 450 BC. Attributed to the painter of the Brussels Oinochoes.

Thepeltasts,usually serving asskirmishers,were armed with several javelins, often withthrowing strapsto increase stand-off power. The peltasts hurled their javelins at the enemy's heavier troops, thehoplitephalanx,in order to break their lines so that their own army's hoplites could destroy the weakened enemy formation. In thebattle of Lechaeum,theAtheniangeneralIphicratestook advantage of the fact that aSpartanhoplite phalanx operating nearCorinthwas moving in the open field without the protection of any missile-throwing troops. He decided to ambush it with his force of peltasts. By launching repeated hit-and-run attacks against the Spartan formation, Iphicrates and his men were able to wear the Spartans down, eventually routing them and killing just under half. This marked the first recorded occasion in ancient Greek military history in which a force entirely made up of peltasts had defeated a force of hoplites.

Thethureophoroiandthorakitai,who gradually replaced the peltasts, carried javelins in addition to a long thrustingspearand ashort sword.

Javelins were often used as an effective hunting weapon, the strap adding enough power to take down large game. Javelins were also used in theAncient Olympicsand otherPanhellenic games.They were hurled in a certain direction and whoever hurled it the farthest, as long as it hit tip-first, won that game.

Ancient Rome

Main article:Pilum

Republic and early empire

Reconstructionof apost-Marianpilum

In 387 BC, theGaulsinvaded Italy, inflicted a crushing defeat on theRoman Republican army,and sacked Rome. After this defeat, the Romans undertook a comprehensive reform of their army and changed the basic tactical formation from the Greek-style phalanx armed with thehastaspear and theclipeusround shieldto a more flexible three-line formation. Thehastatistood in the first line, theprincipesin the second line and thetriariiin the third line. While thetriariiwere still armed withhastae,thehastatiand theprincipeswere rearmed with short swords and heavy javelins. Each soldier from thehastatiandprincipeslines carried two javelins. This heavy javelin, known as apilum(pluralpila), was about two metres long overall, consisting of an iron shank, about 7 mm in diameter and 60 cm long, with pyramidal head, secured to a wooden shaft. The iron shank was either socketed or, more usually, widened to a flattang.Apilumusually weighed between 0.9 and 2.3 kilograms (2.0 and 5.1 lb),with the versions produced during theempirebeing somewhat lighter. Pictorial evidence suggests that some versions of the weapon were weighted with a lead ball at the base of the shank in order to increase penetrative power, but no archaeological specimens have been found.Recent experiments have shownpilato have a range of about 30 metres (98.4 ft), although the effective range is only 15 and 20 metres (49.2 and 65.6 ft).Pilawere sometimes referred to as "javelins", but the archaic term for the javelin was "verutum".

From the third century BC, the Roman legion added a skirmisher type of soldier to its tactical formation. Theveliteswere light infantry armed with short swords (thegladiusorpugio), small round shields, and several small javelins. These javelins were called "veruta"(singularverutum). Thevelitestypically drew near the enemy, hurled javelins against their formation, and then retreated behind the legion's heavier infantry. Theveliteswere considered highly effective in turning backwar elephants,on account of discharging a hail of javelins at some range and not presenting a "block" that could be trampled on or otherwise smashed – unlike the close-order infantry behind them. At theBattle of Zamain 202 BC, the javelin-throwingvelitesproved their worth and were no doubt critical in helping to herd Hannibal's war elephants through the formation to be slaughtered. Theveliteswould slowly have been either disbanded or re-equipped as more-heavily armed legionaries from the time whenGaius Mariusand other Roman generals reorganised the army in the late second and early first centuries BC. Their role would most likely have been taken by irregular auxiliary troops as the republic expanded overseas. Theverutumwas a cheaper missile weapon than thepilum.Theverutumwas a short-range weapon, with a simply made head of soft iron.

Legionariesof the laterepublicand early empire often carried twopila,with one sometimes being lighter than the other. Standard tactics called for a Roman soldier to throw hispilum(both if there was time) at the enemy just before charging to engage with hisgladius.Somepilahad small hand-guards, to protect the wielder if he intended to use it as a melee weapon, but it does not appear that this was common.

Late Empire

In the late Roman Empire, the Roman infantry came to use a differently-shaped javelin from the earlierpilum.This javelin was lighter and had a greater range. Called aplumbata,it resembled a thick stocky arrow, fletched with leather vanes to provide stability and rotation in flight (which increased accuracy). To overcome its comparatively small mass, the plumbata was fitted with an oval-shaped lead weight socketed around the shaft just forward of thecenter of balance,giving the weapon its name. Even so, plumbatae were much lighter than pila, and would not have had the armour penetration or shield transfi xing capabilities of their earlier counterparts.

Two or three plumbatae were typically clipped to a small wooden bracket on the inside of the large oval or round shields used at the time. Massed troops would unclip and hurl plumbatae as the enemy neared, hopefully stalling their movement and morale by making them clump together and huddle under their shields. With the enemy deprived of rapid movement and their visibility impaired by their own raised shields, the Roman troops were then better placed to exploit the tactical situation. It is unlikely plumbatae were viewed by the Romans as the killing blow, but more as a means of stalling the enemy at ranges greater than previously provided by the heavier and shorter ranged pilum.

Gaul

The Gallic cavalry used to hurl several javelin volleys to soften the enemy before a frontal attack. The Gallic cavalry used their javelins in a tactic similar to that ofhorse archers'Parthian shot.The Gauls knew how to turn on horseback to throw javelins backwards while appearing to retreat.

Iberia

The Hispanic cavalry was a light cavalry armed withfalcatasand several light javelins. TheCantabritribes invented a military tactic to maximize the advantages of the combination between horse and javelin. In this tactic the horsemen rode around in circles, toward and away from the enemy, continually hurling javelins. The tactic was usually employed against heavy infantry. The constant movement of the horsemen gave them an advantage against slow infantry and made them hard to target. The maneuver was designed to harass and taunt the enemy forces, disrupting close formations. This was commonly used against enemy infantry, especially the heavily armed and slow moving legions of the Romans. This tactic came to be known as theCantabrian circle.In the late Republic various auxiliary cavalry completely replaced the Italian cavalry contingents and the Hispanic auxiliary cavalry was considered the best.

Numidia

TheNumidianswere indigenous tribes ofnorthwest Africa.TheNumidian cavalrywas a light cavalry usually operating as skirmishers. The Numidian horseman was armed with a small shield and several javelins. The Numidians had a reputation as swift horsemen, cunning soldiers and excellent javelin throwers. It is said thatJugurtha,the Numidian king "...took part in the national pursuits of riding,javelin throwingand competed with other young men in running. "[Sallust The Jugurthine War: 6]. The Numidian Cavalry served as mercenaries in theCarthaginian Armyand played a key role in assisting bothHannibaland Scipio during theSecond Punic War.

Middle ages

Norman cavalry armed with lances attacks the Anglo-Saxon shield wall. Notice the dominance of the spearmen in the front line of the formation. In the back of the formation there is one warrior armed with a battle-axe, one archer, and one javelineer. There are javelins in mid-flight and slain soldiers pierced with javelins on the ground

Norse

There is some literary and archeological evidence that the Norse were familiar with and used the javelin for hunting and warfare, but they commonly used a spear designed for both throwing and thrusting. TheOld Norseword for javelin wasfrakka.

Anglo-Saxons

The Anglo-Saxon term for javelin wasfrance.InAnglo-Saxon warfare,soldiers usually formed ashield walland used heavy weapons likeDanish axes,swordsandspears.Javelins, including barbedangons,were used as an offensive weapon from behind the shield wall or by warriors who left the protective formation and attacked the enemy asskirmishers.Designed to be difficult to remove from either flesh or wood, theAngonjavelin used by Anglo-Saxon warriors was an effective means of disabling an opponent or hisshield,thus having the potential to disrupt opposing shield-walls.

Iberia

TheAlmogavarswere a class of Aragonese infantrymen armed with a short sword, a shield and two heavy javelins, known as azcona.The equipment resembled that of a Roman legionary and the use of the heavy javelins was much the same.

TheJineteswere Arabic light horsemen armed with several javelins, a sword, and a shield. They were proficient at skirmishing and rapid maneuver, and played an important role in Arabic mounted warfare throughout the Reconquista until the sixteenth century. These units were widespread among the Italian infantrymen of the fifteenth century.

Wales

TheWelsh,particularly those ofNorth Wales,used the javelin as one of their main weapons. During theNormanand laterEnglish invasions,the primary Welsh tactic was to rain javelins on the tired, hungry, and heavily armoured English troops and then retreat into the mountains or woods before the English troops could pursue and attack them. This tactic was very successful, since it demoralized and damaged the English armies while the Welsh ranks suffered little.

Ireland

Thekernof Ireland used javelins as their main weapon as they accompanied the more heavily armouredgalloglass.

Chinese

Various kingdoms and dynasties inChinahave used javelins, such as the iron-headed javelin of theQing dynasty.

Qi Jiguang's anti-pirate army included javelin throwers with shields.

Modern age

Africa

The only known drawing ofShaka.Notice the long throwing assegai

Flag of Eswatini

ManyAfricankingdoms have used the javelin as their main weapon since ancient times. Typical African warfare was based on ritualized stand-off encounters involving throwing javelins without advancing for close combat. In the flag ofEswatinithere is a shield and two javelins, which symbolize the protection from the country's enemies.

Zulu

TheZuluwarriors used a long version of theassegaijavelin as their primary weapon. The Zulu legendary leaderShakainitiatedmilitary reformsin which a short stabbing spear, with a long, swordlike spearhead namediklwa,had become the Zulu warrior's main weapon and was used as amêlée weapon.The assegai was not discarded, but was used for an initial missile assault. With the larger shields, introduced by Shaka to the Zulu army, the short spears used as stabbing swords and the opening phase of javelin attack; the Zulu regiments were quite similar to the Roman legion with itsScutum,Gladiusand Pilum tactical combination.

Mythology

Norse mythology

In Norse mythology, Odin, the chief god, carried a javelin or spear called Gungnir. It was created by a group ofdwarvesknown as theSons of Ivaldiwho also fashioned the ship ofFreyrcalledSkidbladnirand the golden hair ofSif.It had the property of always finding its mark ( "the spear never stopped in its thrust" ).During the final conflict ofRagnarokbetween thegodsandgiants,Odin will use Gungnir to attack the wolfFenrirbefore being devoured by him.

During thewar(and subsequent alliance) between theAesirandVanirat the dawn of time, Odin hurled a javelin over the enemy hostwhich, according to custom, was thought to bring good fortune or victory to the thrower.Odin also wounded himself with a spear while hanging fromYggdrasil,theWorld Tree,in his ritual quest for knowledgebut in neither case is the weapon referred to specifically as Gungnir.

When the godBaldrbegan to havepropheticdreams of his own death, his motherFriggextracted an oath from all things in nature not to harm him. However, she neglected themistletoe,thinking it was too young to make, let alone respect, such a solemn vow. WhenLokilearned of this weakness, he had a javelin ordartmade from one of its branches and trickedHod,the blind god, into hurling it at Baldr and causing his death.

Lusitanian mythology

The godRunesocesiusis identified as a "god of the javelin".

See also

• Aklys
• Angon
• Assegai
• Atlatl (Spear-thrower)
• Cirit
• Falarica
• Ger (weapon)
• Lancea (weapon)
• Leister
• Mesangylon
• One flue harpoon
• Plumbata
• Soliferrum
• Vel
• Toggling harpoon
• Two flue harpoon
• Yari

Further reading

• Anglim, Simon et al., (2003), Fighting Techniques of the Ancient World (3000 B.C. to 500 A.D.): Equipment, Combat Skills, and Tactics, Thomas Dunne Books.
• Bennett, Matthew et al., (2005), Fighting Techniques of the Medieval World: Equipment, Combat Skills and Tactics, Thomas Dunne Books.
• Connolly, Peter, (2006), Greece and Rome at War, Greenhill Books, 2nd edition.
• Jorgensen, rister et al., (2006), Fighting Techniques of the Early Modern World: Equipment, Combat Skills, and Tactics, Thomas Dunne Books.
• Saunders, J. J., (1972), A History of Medieval Islam, Routledge.
• Warry, John Gibson, (1995), Warfare in the Classical World: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons, Warriors and Warfare in the Ancient Civilisations of Greece and Rome, University of Oklahoma Press.
• Rawlinson, G., (1882), History of Ancient Egypt, E. Cassino.
• Bothwell Gosse, A. (1915), The Civilization of the Ancient Egyptians, T.C. & E.C. Jack.

External links

• Samnite and early Romanpilum-type javelins
• Picture of a Thracian Peltast with one javelin in his throwing hand and four javelins in his Pelte hand as additional ammunition