Greek half-kneeling archers

[Urselius]

I thought that we were discussing possible origins of the ancient Greek illustrations of archers loosing arrows from a half-kneeling position, not cast-iron certainties. I am putting forward hypotheses, that is all.

Please note a couple of pertinent things I said earlier, I doubted the usefulness on the battlefield of the possible firing from stringing move, then I hypothesised a form of sporting archery contest where this could be employed. What I said is completely true, the 'Scythian' method of stringing does leave you with one leg caught between the stave and bowstring, whilst the method illustrated in the three-person image would not. This is not a problem, except if a person was required to fire immediately after stringing the bow, whilst still crouching.

The 'knee and dirt stringing' method may be doubtful to you, but it is illustrated on a contemporary source, which should give it some pertinence.

I am astonished that you did not see that the image I linked to (the archer in the phrygian cap) is merely a preliminary stance to the crouching posture you have shown (the Scythian). Try crouching and then putting one foot over a bow stave; it  is much easier to do this standing and then crouch. Have a good look at the two illustrations in your post, they could be two frames in an animation!