7 Famous & Powerful Bows of Myth & Legend [Updated]

Bows are common objects in mythology from around the world. Like other tools and weapons in ancient myths, bows and arrows have practical uses as powerful objects within these cultural stories.

Bows and arrows are some of the most ancient weapons in world history. Because of this, they are important objects in the earliest myths and legends of cultures worldwide.

bows and arrows mythology — Bows and arrows appear in mythology and legend worldwide. After Anthony van Dyck, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Bows and arrows are featured in myths and legends of ancient Greece and Rome, India, Iran, and Britain. These diverse cultures all recognized the power and usefulness of the bow and arrow.

Our article includes weapons from these cultures and countries. Although these myths reflect the unique characteristics of these cultures, the bows and arrows used in these stories are similar in their power and use by gods, goddesses, and heroes.

1) Bows of Apollo & Artemis

apollo with bow — Apollo kills Python with his bow and arrow. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The bows of Apollo and Artemis are described as silver or gold weapons. Apollo’s bow was crafted by the god Hephaestus.

Apollo is credited as the inventor of archery within Greek mythology. His role as an archer appears in early Minoan mythology. He is described as the “master of animals” and a “god of hunting” alongside Artemis.

artemis bow — Artemis pictured with a bow. Regional Archaeological Museum Antonino Salinas, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Artemis’s silver bow was fashioned by Cyclops. She uses the weapon for hunting and self-defense.

2) Pinaka

pinaka bow — Pinaka is the bow of Shiva. Kalyan Kumar, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pinaka is the powerful bow of the god Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, Shiva used the bow in his duel with Ganesha.

Shiva also wielded Pinaka in his battle against the three cities of Mayasura, or Tripura. The weapon was essential in his victory against the cities.

3) Vijaya

Vijaya bow — Vijaya is the bow of Indra. British Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Vijaya is a bow created by Vishvakarma for the god Indra, the king of devas. Indra used the bow to defeat demons, or asuras.

The bow is said to have sounded like a thundercloud when fired. The sound was so great that it terrified the entire world.

Indra eventually passed Vijaya down to Rukmi.

4) Gandiva

Gandiva is a bow owned by Arjuna, a heroic prince and one of the greatest archers in Indian mythology. Arjuna’s bow was so powerful that the god’s feared it.

The bow was originally crafted by Brahma to punish the wicked of the world. Brahma used Gandiva before it became the bow of Arjuna. Indra, Chandra, and Varuna also possessed Gandiva before it was acquired by Arjuna.

Arjuna wielded Gandiva in the battle of Kurukshetra. He returned the bow to Varuna after his retirement.

5) Sharanga

Sharanga is the bow of the god Vishnu. His various avatars use the bow in Hindu mythology. The bow was originally created by Vishvakarma to determine the strength of Vishnu and Shiva.

Vishnu proved victorious and gained the use of Sharanga.

6) Arash’s Bow

arash and his bow — Arash’s bow helped create the boundary of Iran. ninara, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Arash is a hero of Iranian folklore. According to legend, Arash created the boundary of Iran and Turan (a historical region near Iran).

The hero used his bow to create the boundary. His arrow took days to land in a tree marking the new border of the two lands.

7) Fail-Not

Fail-not is an invention of the Arthurian hero Tristan. He is a figure that appears in myths and legends of Britain and northern France.

Tristan’s Fail-Not is a type of trap that uses an arrow. Anyone who enters the range of the trap is shot by an arrow.

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7 Famous Mythological Bows [Facts & Pics]