Assyrian recurve bows

The Assyrians were an ancient people who lived in Mesopotamia and ruled the region between the 24th and 9th centuries BCE. Their power extended over present-day Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

The Assyrian bow and archery are generally reconstructed based on frescoes and sculptures depicting details of the royal palaces and the Assyrian army.

The empire had a strong and well-organized military, with the infantry and cavalry units forming the backbone, and the bow was a fundamental weapon for both. The archers played a particularly important role in the Assyrian army. Among the combat units, there were light cavalry archers who were able to swiftly move on the battlefield while shooting from their horses.

Assyrian archers were renowned for their accuracy and effectiveness. They could hit targets at long distances.