Lot 884

Description

Islamic, Seljuk, silver archers ring from the 13th century, height 13mm, diameter 33mm, carrying a tribal symbol inside the ring and typical Seljuk leaf design on the outer surface. Very fine and extremely rare.

The Seljuk Horse archers were one of the greatest threats faced by the Crusading armies because of their speed and maneuverability, enhanced by the pace and agility of their horses and the lightness of their weapons. According to Smail's book, Crusading Warfare, mobility was probably the greatest weapon of the mounted archers, in the 13th- and 14th-century Arabic archery exercises as quoted in Rabie's article on the 'Training of the Mamluk Faris.' (Rabie, H., (1986) 'The Training of the Mamluk Faris.' War, Technology and Society in the Middle East. ed. V.J. Parry and M.E. Yapp. Oxford: Oxford University Press). One exercise quoted in Rabie's article instructed the rider to hold the reins between the middle and ring fingers of the hand that is closest to the head of the horse, while shooting in a 'downward manner'. The ring is worn on the thumb facing the palm of the hand that held the bow string with the arrow was fitted. Ex Ruth Pope Collection.