The Traditional Archery Team of the Association of Historical Studies “Koryvantes” successfully participated with 14-member mission to the International Traditional Archery Contest "Necmeddin Okyay" that was held in Istanbul between 15 and 16 June 2013. Our members represented our country in a Pan-European cultural event showing the age old Hellenic Archery Tradition.
The "Necmeddin Okyay" Traditional Archery Festival is organized by the TALIMHANE Archery Institute (TALİMHANE OKÇULUK ENSTİTUSU) and the municipality of Uskudar. The contest which is is already one of the most popular Traditional Archery Festivals in Europe , took place in a big stadium of the beautiful Istanbul suburb . Archer friends from Rumania, Georgia, Russia, Hungary, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Poland and other countries participated in this great celebration of Traditional Archery, culture and National Traditions.
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| Our Archer Evangelos Vongellis celebrating his victory, after he had won the Special Archery Contest |
The impressive participation of our Association’s members got very nice comments both from the participants and the organizers and by being the center of attention from the Mass Media of the neighboring country. Our archers carrying high standard and historically accurate equipment demonstrated re-enacted archers from the Mycenaean Era , to the Late Byzantium and held high the Flag of Greek Tradition thus demonstrating the old Archery Heritage of out Nation.
The first day we participated in a parade of all missions at the coast of Bosporus. Under the sound of our battle horn alongside the other archers we shot our arrows –upon whish peace messages had been inscribed- into the sea. Our Association also received from the governor of Istanbul Mr. Mustapha Karra a commemorative plaque for our participation in the event as well as his compliments.
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| The " KORYVANTES" Traditional Archery Team , in Istanbul |
The contest took place on Sunday 16th of June. The archers shot at distances ranging from 7 to 70 meters. The contest also for the first time shooting from cover thus simulating fortification defenses action. All of our archer were in the first 70 among 170 contestants and more specifically Spyros Bakas got the 10th place, Giannis Tsilikis the 14th place, Kostas Papantoniou the 19th place and Aristodemos Nikiteas the 38th place. In the especial shooting contest our Archer Evangellos Voggelis in a straight shot from the 30 meters won the honorary price of one golden Turkish pound while competing against world-class champions, thus demonstrating in the best possible way the dynamism of our members.
For our Association this was also a chance to perform Experimental Archaeology tests in a series of reconstructed armor and archery techniques thus drawing useful conclusion for our research that will be published in our future Association’s studies
For all our members it was a very valuable experience and a good chance to be in the great Family of International Traditional Archery and also to understand our responsibility to continue the proud representation of Hellenic Traditional Archery abroad.
We thank Mr. Adnan Mehel and all archer friends and organizers of the Talimhane institute for their hospitality and the splendid organization of this Festival.
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| Our Archer Spyros Bakas infront of the 40m target. |
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| The " KORYVANTES" Traditional Archery Team , in Istanbul |
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| The " KORYVANTES" Traditional Archery Team while parading in the Bosporus coast |
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| The " KORYVANTES" Traditional Archery Team while parading in the Bosporus coast |
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| Members of our Traditional Archery Team while Shooting arrows in the Bosporus. |
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| Governor of Istanbul giving a commemorative plaque to our Team |
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| Our Archer Kostas Papantoniou |
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| " KORYVANTES" Traditional Archery Team while shooting during the contest |
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| The Host. Mr Adnan Mehel speaking to the contestants for the oppening ceremony. |
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| Our Archer Vladimiros Gavakis with his heavy Byzantine Armour , representing a warrior of the Late Byzantine era. |
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| Our Archer Aristodemos Nikiteas infront of the 30m target |
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| Our Archer Giannis Tsilikis shooting in the special contest |
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| Our Archers during the warm up session |
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| Our Archer Lykourgos Balodimos |
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| Our Archer Kostas Papantoniou |
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| "KORYVANTES" Archers shooting in the 40m distance |
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| Archers from Turkey |
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| Archer from Romania |
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| Champion Lakaton Istvan receiving his winning cup |
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| Our Archer Giorgos Kanakaris infront of the 70m target |
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| Our Archer Kostas Kourkoulis shooting in the special contest |
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| Our Archers in the motion -shooting target |
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| Our Archers in the hide -shooting target |
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| View from the Shooting area |
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| Two great friends of our Association, Mr Adnan Mehel, and Mr Eren Kalinbacak |
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| Mr Adnan Mehel in the closing ceremony |
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| Memmorial Photo of the foreighn team-participants |
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| " KORYVANTES " Archery Team Banner |
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