Greek Horsemen throwing the Javelin. Throwing the javelin from horseback was a favourite contest among the early Greeks. The competitor apparently had to throw his missile while riding at full gallop; at a target not unlike that used by us for archery. The artist has here drawn his materials from representations on vases; an example of which is shown above. Illustration for Hutchinson's History of the Nations (Hutchinson; c.1920). Note: Image has been digitally enhanced to facilitate repro.