ΚΟΡΥΒΑΝΤΕΣ: KORYVANTES in Istanbul, June 15-16 2013 . Participation in the International Traditional Archery Festival " Necmeddin Okyay”

The Official Banner of the Festival

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.

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.

The " KORYVANTES" Traditional Archery Team , in Istanbul

The contest took place on Sunday 16^th 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 14^th place, Kostas Papantoniou the 19^th place and Aristodemos Nikiteas the 38^th 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.

Association of Historical Studies "KORYVANTES"