05-29-2011, 01:41 AM
Actually, Ilya has a good point. Of course, my opinion was that kontoi were generally not hurled, not that they never were in all thousands of years that the word was used. It is also true that the verb "akontizein" almost always means to hurl a javelinlike object (hence the kontos within the word) but was also used for blood that spurt from wounds, for stones etc. That said, Arrian's text is unfortunately not as clear in its meaning as we would like it to be and this is why some have translated it into "stab" instead of "throw".
That the kontos is a longer, heavier type of spear is evident within the text. Arrian has the first four ranks of his line armed with them. That some have hypothesized that his kontoi are some type of long pilum it is also true, because of the detail of their iron part. Yet, more interesting details are given. The first rank, the one that is supposed later on to hurl the kontos, are holding their spear εἰς προβολὴν aiming at the horses' chests. They are not wielding their kontous like the ranks in their back but how are they wielding them? It seems that for Arrian it means that the kontoi are almost upright (ἀλλὰ κοντοὺς γὰρ τὰ μὲν πρῶτα ὀρθοὺς ὡς εἰς προβολὴν φέροντες ἐπελαύνουσιν, Tact.43.2.3). This would mean that the first rankers would be kneeling or at least bending. If this is correct then from this position it is virtually impossible to effectively throw a long spear. He also calls the position of the second-third and four rankers "εἰς ἀκοντισμὸν προβεβλήσθων τοὺς κοντοὺς", which does not imply throwing, just wielding them with an overhand stabbing grip. When he speaks about the missiles, he does not include the kontous but he does include the loghai (καὶ βέλη τε ἀπὸ μηχανῶν καὶ λίθους ἀφίεσθαι καὶ βέλη ἀπὸ τόξων, καὶ λόγχας οἱ λογχοφόροι ἀκοντιζέτωσαν οἵ τε ψιλοὶ καὶ οἱ θειασταί.)
In conclusion, I cannot say with certainty that Arrian does not have his kontoi being hurled, but if I understand the εἰς προβολὴν stance correctly coupled with his mentioning that it is the first rank that does the akontizein, I am inclined to believe that he uses the word as "stab" instead of "throw".
That the kontos is a longer, heavier type of spear is evident within the text. Arrian has the first four ranks of his line armed with them. That some have hypothesized that his kontoi are some type of long pilum it is also true, because of the detail of their iron part. Yet, more interesting details are given. The first rank, the one that is supposed later on to hurl the kontos, are holding their spear εἰς προβολὴν aiming at the horses' chests. They are not wielding their kontous like the ranks in their back but how are they wielding them? It seems that for Arrian it means that the kontoi are almost upright (ἀλλὰ κοντοὺς γὰρ τὰ μὲν πρῶτα ὀρθοὺς ὡς εἰς προβολὴν φέροντες ἐπελαύνουσιν, Tact.43.2.3). This would mean that the first rankers would be kneeling or at least bending. If this is correct then from this position it is virtually impossible to effectively throw a long spear. He also calls the position of the second-third and four rankers "εἰς ἀκοντισμὸν προβεβλήσθων τοὺς κοντοὺς", which does not imply throwing, just wielding them with an overhand stabbing grip. When he speaks about the missiles, he does not include the kontous but he does include the loghai (καὶ βέλη τε ἀπὸ μηχανῶν καὶ λίθους ἀφίεσθαι καὶ βέλη ἀπὸ τόξων, καὶ λόγχας οἱ λογχοφόροι ἀκοντιζέτωσαν οἵ τε ψιλοὶ καὶ οἱ θειασταί.)
In conclusion, I cannot say with certainty that Arrian does not have his kontoi being hurled, but if I understand the εἰς προβολὴν stance correctly coupled with his mentioning that it is the first rank that does the akontizein, I am inclined to believe that he uses the word as "stab" instead of "throw".
