Our History in Traditional Archery
A Journey of Partnership, Innovation, and Global Recognition
Since the summer of 2012, the Association of Historical Studies "KORYVANTES" has been at the forefront of traditional archery in Greece, pioneering a comprehensive approach that combines rigorous research, practical training, and international engagement. Though earlier projects—initiatives developed and executed by our own Association—had occasionally featured traditional archery elements, 2012 marked the beginning of a systematic, organized commitment to this ancient discipline—a commitment that would transform the landscape of traditional archery in Greece and earn international recognition.
The Early Years: Building a Foundation (2012–2017)
From the outset, our approach to traditional archery was both research-driven and practice-oriented. That first community of archers dedicated themselves to technical training and active participation in international traditional archery competitions, pursuing a deliberate strategy of outward engagement and global networking within the worldwide traditional archery community.
What began as a focused initiative soon evolved into an extraordinary odyssey of participation and experience. Over the following years, dozens of our traditional archers traveled on international delegations, creating a dynamic momentum of Greek traditional archery outreach and establishing the first robust core of traditional archers in Greece. This journey of international engagement took our members across continents and cultures:
Istanbul, Turkey (2013) | Amasya, Turkey (2013, 2014) | Biga, Turkey (2014) | Kiev, Ukraine (2014) | Danyang, South Korea (2014) | Gyeongju, South Korea (2015) | Taunton, United Kingdom (2015, 2016) | Qinghai, China (2016) | Budapest, Hungary (2016) | Sunna, Germany (2016) | Leczyca, Poland (2016) | Incheon, South Korea (2017) | Golub-Dobrzyn, Poland (2017) | Pelion, Greece (2015) | Ioannina, Greece (2015) | Patras, Greece (2015) and many others.
During these foundational years, parallel research and experimental projects on archery in the ancient world were conducted, while members of our Association produced significant academic publications in prestigious international journals—works that can be found in the Academic Publications section of this website.
The overwhelming acceptance and reach of that first community led us to recognize the necessity of systematization and institutional protection of our work for Greece and for domestic competitions. For this reason, in 2017, we established the Koryvantes Archery Sports Club based in Thessaloniki, which has been officially recognized by the General Secretariat for Sports and remains a member of the Hellenic Archery Federation to this day.
Institutional Recognition and Competitive Excellence (2017–Present)
Since 2017, the Koryvantes Archery Sports Club has achieved remarkable competitive success, winning dozens of medals across all bow categories (Recurve, Compound, Longbow, Instinctive, Traditional) in Greek competitions, with dozens of athletes in its ranks. A milestone achievement came in 2021 when the club succeeded in electing two of its members to the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Archery Federation, further cementing our institutional presence in Greek archery.
Concurrently, the Association of Historical Studies KORYVANTES continued its steady stream of international delegations, including Ryppin, Poland (2018, 2019) | Dobrzyn, Poland (2018, 2019) | Kalavassos, Cyprus (2018.
ARKTOS: Greece's Premier 3D Archery Event
The year 2018 was landmark for Greek traditional archery, as we organized Greece's first international 3D archery meeting, "ARKTOS 2018", in the beautiful forests of Leptokaryes village, Florina.
Building on this success, 2019 represented a major organizational milestone: together with the Koryvantes Archery Sports Club, we organized both the 2nd meeting and the first official 3D archery competition in Greece, "ARKTOS 2019," with dozens of international participants and tremendous public reception. The competition was held under the regulations of World Archery and hosted dozens of archers from Greece, Cyprus, and Latvia, establishing new standards for field archery in the country.Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we successfully organized the 3rd Meeting, "ARKTOS 2021," adhering to all safety protocols.
2023 marked another pinnacle in Greek traditional archery history with the organization of the 4th Meeting, "ARKTOS 2023," featuring distinguished archers from Greece and abroad, complemented by workshops and lectures of archaeological and historical interest focusing on the history and cultural significance of traditional archery. The event attracted over 80 archers, friends, and researchers from 9 different countries, reinforcing ARKTOS's position as a premier international gathering for traditional archery enthusiasts.
Academic Research: The Sintashta Bow Project
In parallel with competitive and organizational achievements, members of our Association have conducted distinguished research on the history of archery. In 2019, Spyros Bakas undertook the renowned Sintashta Bow Project, an international collaborative effort with researchers from Russia to reconstruct the compound bow of the Bronze Age Sintashta culture.
This groundbreaking experimental archaeology project, supported by the EXARC Twinning Grant program, involved creating authentic replicas based on antler parts discovered in burial sites from the Chelyabinsk region of Russia. The project team produced four full-scale reconstructions, rigorously testing hypotheses about ancient bow design and functionality. The research has been published in prestigious academic outlets including EXARC Journal and presented at international venues. In recognition of this exceptional work, Spyros Bakas was honored with the 2019 EXARC International Award for Experimental Archaeology, considered one of the highest distinctions in the field.
Global Engagement
Throughout these years, the Association has participated—following gracious invitations—in international deliberations and consultations toward the institutionalization of an organized effort for international traditional archery. We have participated in international forums discussing the institutionalization of traditional archery for UNESCO recognition, including: Khiva, Uzbekistan (2023) – The International Ethnosport Festival and Summit, Antalya, Turkey (2024) – The 6th Ethnosport Forum, an international gathering focused on global ethnosport development,
Ulsan, South Korea (June 2025) – The 2025 Korea Ulsan Archery International Academic Symposium, Ulsan, South Korea (October-November 2025) – The 2025 KOREA Ulsan World Traditional Archery World Cup (October 31–November 4, 2025
Historic Achievement: World Traditional Archery Federation (2025)
On November 1st, 2025, in Ulsan, South Korea, a new chapter in the global history of traditional archery began with the establishment of the World Traditional Archery Federation (WTAF). This historic moment represents the first time a unified international body has been created to coordinate and promote traditional archery worldwide.We are deeply honored that Spyros Bakas was elected to the Executive Board of the World Traditional Archery Federation by unanimous decision of representatives from 31 countries. The establishment of the World Traditional Archery Federation with an internationally recognized board of specialists aims to advance the global heritage of traditional archery and secure its international recognition, particularly within UNESCO, as a primary cultural practice of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This achievement simultaneously strengthens the international presence of the Greek academic community and our intellectual heritage in the field of experimental archaeology and traditional martial arts.
Our Vision Forward
Through rigorous research, systematic training, international collaboration, and institutional development, the KORYVANTES Association has contributed in the transformation of the landscape of traditional archery in Greece. This transformation has not been ours alone. We have worked alongside practitioners, researchers, and enthusiasts throughout Greece and internationally, helping to reshape perceptions of traditional archery and create pathways for its recognition and development. By bridging ancient knowledge with contemporary research methods, we have contributed to elevating traditional archery from a niche pursuit to a vibrant discipline worthy of academic study, international competition, and cultural protection.
As we continue this journey, we remain deeply committed to the principles that have guided us from the beginning: scholarly rigor grounded in historical evidence, practical excellence in technique and training, genuine international cooperation, and the steadfast belief that traditional archery represents not merely a sport, but a living link to the cultural heritage of humanity itself. We are dedicated to advancing the cause of traditional and historical archery in Greece and worldwide, working with reverence for history and tradition, ensuring that these ancient practices are preserved, understood, and celebrated as irreplaceable expressions of human cultural achievement. Through education, research, and community engagement, we endeavor to ensure that traditional archery takes its rightful place in the contemporary world, honored and protected for generations to come.