"So like most historical slinger depictions - this one is based on an actual slinger actually slinging"

There, corrected it for you.

Curious Aardvark wrote on Sep 15^th, 2017 at 7:29am:


Negative sir. All ancient manuscripts and art are based on 100% factual eye witness accounts.

A cup by the painter Makron shows a variant (found in other vases too), where the body is twisted away from the direction of shot, while the cords are being tensed. The body is carefully represented (and needs close reading: he is shooting towards the right, from where there are enemies shooting arrows at him) and the gesture of cord-tensing with long slings is exactly paralleled from the Baleares. The hand position with the thumb pointing forward and the palm upwards (supination in fencing terminology) is also accurately represented.

I have tried slinging this way, positioning my feet in this position (right foot pointing away from target, body turning, one rotation and then release) and it generates a long unwinding sling trajectory and if done right, a powerful, accurate, flat shot (it also hurts my elbow a bit and I generally prefer to lob).

[modified to add reference to hand position in supination]

Yep and I was right in 2014 as well

CA I am glad you like your gifts! If this changes your mind about split pouch slings then I'm glad I put it in your hand. Maybe you'll even improve 
I encourage you all to check out my work on Facebook: Cobblestone Leathers or on instagram: cobblestone_leathers. As you might have guessed from the slings, I am into leather.
I do take bribes or even money so if you like nice things hit me up.

I might make a tutorial for you guys on how to make your own slinging drink coaster.... hopefully it won't take 9 months!

Note that these are not representations of the release, which Greek artists either found difficult to seize or did not like to show, preferring starting positions. I don't think these are "studio" positions (that's a presupposition without evidence) as much as images reconstructed in the mind's eye-- both the artist's and the viewer's-- and as such, they have to be convincing. This is naturalist art, and as such, it tries to get things, bodies, and postures right-- and gets increasingly good at it. At least when we can compare things represented with actual things (for instance tools or helmets), the level of accuracy is very good. Not photography, and not trying to be-- but trying to show reality (for various ideological purposes, of course). Medieval art is also very good at showing weaponry and realia.

Things like slinging technique or archery (or horsemanship) are hard to show right, but I think those Greek artists had a good crack at it. The "Greek" style, to be authentic, should therefore be a pose with the pouch before the eyes (and hence a helicopter from static start).