An ''amentum'' (Greek: ''αγκύλη'', ankyle,) was a leather strap attached to a

javelin A javelin is a light spear designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon. Today, the javelin is predominantly used for sporting purposes such as the javelin throw. The javelin is nearly always thrown by hand, unlike the sling ...

used in

ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...

athletics, hunting, and warfare, which helped to increase the range and the stability of the javelin in flight. Stability in flight was important because it allowed the javelin to land on its point, which was the only way the throw could be accurately recorded in competition or be useful against a live target. An ''amentum'' also increased the effective length of the throwing arm, as does a

spear-thrower A spear-thrower, spear-throwing lever, or ''atlatl'' (pronounced or ; Classical Nahuatl, Nahuatl ''ahtlatl'' ) is a tool that uses leverage to achieve greater velocity in Dart (missile), dart or javelin-throwing, and includes a Plain bearing, b ...

, so enhanced speed. It is very similar to the Swiss arrow.

Throwing technique

The javelin was held at ear level and released after a short run. The ''amentum'' was looped over the first two fingers of the throwing hand so as to slip off when the throw was made. In competition throwing for distance, including the

Ancient Olympic pentathlon The Ancient Olympic pentathlon () was an athletic contest at the Ancient Olympic Games, and other Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece. The name derives from Greek, combining the words ''pente'' (five) and ''athlon'' (competition). Five events wer ...

Olympia, Greece Olympia ( ; ), officially Archaia Olympia ( ), is a small town in Elis (regional unit), Elis on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece, famous for the nearby archaeological site of the same name. The site was a major Panhellenic sanctuary, Panhell ...

, a blunt javelin would be launched at about 45 degrees, but in war or the chase, a sharp weapon was thrown much closer to the horizontal. Javelins and their ''amenta'' were used both on foot and from horseback. The ''amentum'' was securely attached at or behind the centre of gravity of the shaft. Attaching the ''amentum'' behind the centre of gravity increased the possible distance thrown but reduced accuracy. Hence the ''amentum'' was detachable, and the athlete fastened it to suit his taste shortly before use. The winding of the ''amentum'' added rotation and therefore accuracy to the projectile, similar to the effect of

rifling Rifling is the term for helical grooves machined into the internal surface of a firearms's barrel for imparting a spin to a projectile to improve its aerodynamic stability and accuracy. It is also the term (as a verb) for creating such groov ...

on a bullet. The experiments conducted by H. A. Harris support the theories based on vase paintings of the proper use of an ''amentum''.

Performance enhancement

In experiments made by General Reffye for

Emperor Napoleon III Napoleon III (Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was President of France from 1848 to 1852 and then Emperor of the French from 1852 until his deposition in 1870. He was the first president, second emperor, and last ...

, a javelin that could be thrown only 20 metres by hand could be thrown 80 metres with the ''amentum''. More recent experiments have failed to replicate this level of enhancement, with well-designed tests, showing only a 58% improvement on average. The advantages of the ''amentum'' are the high precision for fast-flying light javelins, and a less demanding construction than

atlatl A spear-thrower, spear-throwing lever, or ''atlatl'' (pronounced or ; Classical Nahuatl, Nahuatl ''ahtlatl'' ) is a tool that uses leverage to achieve greater velocity in Dart (missile), dart or javelin-throwing, and includes a Plain bearing, b ...

darts.

Parallels

Similar throwing straps were used on light javelins throughout Europe. Italian, Gaulish, and Iberian troops used them before and after the Roman conquests, they are mentioned in use by the Medieval Irish, with the strap referred to as ''suaineamh'', and remains have been found on spears in the Nydam bog finds, where some appear to have been permanently fastened with studs. A similar device was used in

New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a Overseas France#Sui generis collectivity, ''sui generis'' collectivity of t ...

, but in the rest of the world, the spear-thrower was the usual device for increasing the speed and range of light javelins.

References

{{Reflist Javelins