Illustrations of European slingers and staff-slingers, 11th-13th centuries

[Druzhina]

You would expect to see a slinger in 'David & Goliath' but there are many illustrations of medieval slingers such as:

Anglo-Saxon slinger in 'God's Covenant with Abram' from Ælfric's Hexateuch, 2nd quarter of the 11th century
Spanish staff-slingers in 'Fighting around Bethulia' from the Roda Bible, c.1050-1100AD
Spanish staff-slingers in 'Army of Antiochus V' from the Roda Bible, c.1050-1100AD
French slinger in 'David and Goliath' from the Bible of Saint Stephen Harding, 1109-1111AD
'David and Goliath' from the Melisende Psalter, Jerusalem, 1131-1143AD
Spanish slinger in 'David and Goliath' from the Biblia Segunde de San Isidoro de Leon, 1162AD
English slinger in the 'Life of David' from the Winchester Bible, c.1160–1180AD
From Liber ad honorem Augusti by Pietro da Eboli, c.1197
..Sicilian staff-slinger in 'Fighting at Salerno'
..Sicilian slinger in 'The people of Salerno attack the palace'
..Sicilian slinger in 'Assault by the Salerni on the Terracina Palace'
..Sicilian slinger in 'Salerno attacked by the imperial troops'

Staff-slingers in the 'Siege of Damietta' from the Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris, 1240–53AD
French slinger in 'David and Goliath' from the Morgan or Maciejowski Bible, mid 13th Century
French slinger in 'Uriah is Slain' from the Morgan or Maciejowski Bible, mid 13th Century
The Islamic Defenders of Ciutat de Mallorca, including a staff-slinger, 1285-1290

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume and Soldiers

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Surprisingly common weapon.
Takes forever to master. Well, it did when I made my own aged ten!

[Druzhina]

As David is traditionally shieldless, this probably skews down the proportion of slingers depicted with shields.

Ian Heath based his slingers on some of the illuminations above.

MIRROR SITE
Slingers by Ian Heath

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

[Techno]

 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

 

[Druzhina]

This picture of David in the Navarre Picture Bible, Pamplona, Spain, 1197AD shows some detail of the sling's construction.

MIRROR SITE
David in the Navarre Picture Bible, Pamplona, Spain, 1197AD

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers