"Jousting is a challenge between two horsemen wielding lances with blunted tips, often as part of a tournament. The primary aim was to replicate a clash of heavy cavalry, with each opponent endeavoring to strike the opponent while riding towards him at high speed, if possible breaking the lance on the opponent's shield or jousting armour, or unhorsing him. The joust became an iconic characteristic of the knight in Romantic medievalism. The participants experience close to three and a quarter times their body weight in G-forces when the lances collide with their armor.
Jousting is based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. It transformed into a specialised sport during the Late Middle Ages, and remained popular with the nobility in England and Wales and Germany throughout the whole of the 16th century (while in France, it was discontinued after the death of King Henry II in an accident in 1559). In England, jousting was the highlight of the Accession Day tilts of Elizabeth I and James I, and also was part of the festivities at the marriage of Charles I.
Jousting went out of favour and was replaced by other equestrian sports in the 17th century"
Quoted from Wikipedia
This sculpture is in the atrium of the Royal Armouries in Leeds. Outside the museum is a tilt yard, where there are sometimes displays of jousting. The next tournament is over the Easter weekend.
As always, great information with the photo. One of my friends is a stuntman and he rides horses for displays at Leeds Armouries on occasion. It always sounds the most fascinating place, I must visit sometime!
Stunning sculpture! Our forbears knew what they were doing, even when it was dressed up as sport! We'll never know what our descendants think of us, thank goodness!
When I looked at this I wondered if you lived near me and read the commentes and discovered oyou do! Fond memories of the armories, both as a child, and taking the kids I nanny :)
Thank you Naomi, and thank you for the follow, we are following in return. I don't actually live in Leeds, but in York. I do frequently visit Leeds though - so many places to explore and photograph!
Thank you all for your thoughtful comments and generous favs. It is, as always, interesting to hear what you think about our photos.
If any of you get chance, I can recommend a visit to the Royal Armouries. There is such a fascinating range of displays to see.
Ian
Thank you Naomi, and thank you for the follow, we are following in return. I don't actually live in Leeds, but in York. I do frequently visit Leeds though - so many places to explore and photograph!
Ian
Thank you Janet - but would you want to see if someone was attacking you with a lance?
Ian
Sorry Naomi, I confused myself. We are fortunate to live in a place like York, with so much history to explore.
Ian
I agree Dione - we tend to remember the positives of the past, but there was so much cruelty that we often gloss over.
Ian