Someone Illustrates Why Stairs In Castles Were Spiral And Why Left-Handed Knights Were Physically Unable To Joust
Many history enthusiasts probably know that the Middle Ages that were sometimes referred to as the ‘Dark Ages’ were not so dark. In fact, these were the times when people started building castles – majestic and complex buildings intended to be a safe retreat in case of attacks. Normans were the leading castle-builders of the period having started their constructions on forts left by the Romans. However, what they probably haven’t taught you at school is that those narrow, spiral staircases were actually built that way for a purpose and for a very practical and thought-out one as well. This interesting fact on the staircases of Medieval castles was posted on a Tumblr account and quickly ignited a fascinating discussion for history lovers.
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Compared to other species, humans have a higher proportion of right-handers with lefties making up just 10 percent of the entire population. Scientists are yet to discover why right-handedness among the majority of the population won in comparison to left-handedness. Some think that it may be because one side of our brain is pre-specialized for fine-motor control.
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There are a few castles in Wales with counter clockwise spiral staircases, these were defended by left handed swordsmen. I think this was to confuse attackers who would presumably send their left handers upstairs first.
When I got into fencing as a kid and while I’m ambidextrous, I found it more natural to use my left hand and it really threw off all the right handed adults in the group who’d started months before me! I did occasionally switch hands with no trouble, but was more fun being the awkward leftie lol! Kind of reminds me of story I heard growing up, how native Americans noticed white soldiers always mounted horses from left, so they started to only mount form right and make sure their horses wouldn’t stand to be mounted from left, so if captured they’d be a pain in the a*s for soldiers. Moral of story is train horses from both sides! I ended up training horses and quickly realised their left and right sides of brains don’t communicate! So while some would be good as gold with you mounting/tacking up/desensitising etc on one side, they would explode if you did exactly same thing on other side. I’m not sure how true that story is, but it’s a good message if you work with horses!
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Most churches in the UK have left hand spiral staircases; although a few do have right hand spiral ones. Winchester Catherdral's bell tower changes direction half way and has a few trick steps (diffent sizes/ thicknesses etc), so I presume the monks would have taken the treasures up the tower and defended it if required. Pain in the backside if you just want to ring the bells though...
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The OP is so enthusiastic about the topic, she'd make an excellent teacher
When I was a kid I got into fencing and much to everyone else’s dismay, I found it easier to use my left hand! Im ambidextrous so I could have switched hands easily enough, but was way more fun to spar against adults that haven’t dealt with left handed opponent as a kid, plus I thought it was better idea to start off learning harder defence of mirrored opponent. It worked pretty well because I didn’t struggle the odd time I switched to right hand! Just a shame I had to quit when I couldn’t get lift into town anymore, as was one of the first sports that didn’t involve a horse I actually really enjoyed. At least if I get thrown back in time, I should have enough of basics to get job defending stairs that go counter clockwise!
there's no evidence for the spiral staircases.... people have done studies and found almost 50:50 in the staircases u can find it online... it's just a modern myth
Left-handed knights were not "physically unable" to joust. They were "situationally unable." It was the design and use of the weapons, etc. in a predominantly right-handed world that made jousting for left-handers impractical, not the design and use of their hands and bodies.
Very interesting and refreshing post thank you for sharing I enjoyed the history lesson
My dad was born left-handed, but was forced right in 3rd grade (he was born in 1925). The result - fortunately for him - was he became ambidextrous. After joining the Army during WWII, he won right and left pistol and rifle marksmanship medals. You could barely tell the difference between his handwriting with either hand. Me, I'm strongly left-handed and can't imagine being forced to be right as a kid.
Scharfrennen is jousting with melee weapons and no barriers. Basically it’s high risk tilt/joust. The word itself is a combination of Scharf = sharp and Rennen = race.
Load More Replies... Anyone else start singing My Sharona when reading "my schiavona"? Mah mah mah my Sharona!
There are a few castles in Wales with counter clockwise spiral staircases, these were defended by left handed swordsmen. I think this was to confuse attackers who would presumably send their left handers upstairs first.
When I got into fencing as a kid and while I’m ambidextrous, I found it more natural to use my left hand and it really threw off all the right handed adults in the group who’d started months before me! I did occasionally switch hands with no trouble, but was more fun being the awkward leftie lol! Kind of reminds me of story I heard growing up, how native Americans noticed white soldiers always mounted horses from left, so they started to only mount form right and make sure their horses wouldn’t stand to be mounted from left, so if captured they’d be a pain in the a*s for soldiers. Moral of story is train horses from both sides! I ended up training horses and quickly realised their left and right sides of brains don’t communicate! So while some would be good as gold with you mounting/tacking up/desensitising etc on one side, they would explode if you did exactly same thing on other side. I’m not sure how true that story is, but it’s a good message if you work with horses!
Load More Replies... Most churches in the UK have left hand spiral staircases; although a few do have right hand spiral ones. Winchester Catherdral's bell tower changes direction half way and has a few trick steps (diffent sizes/ thicknesses etc), so I presume the monks would have taken the treasures up the tower and defended it if required. Pain in the backside if you just want to ring the bells though...
Load More Replies... The OP is so enthusiastic about the topic, she'd make an excellent teacher
When I was a kid I got into fencing and much to everyone else’s dismay, I found it easier to use my left hand! Im ambidextrous so I could have switched hands easily enough, but was way more fun to spar against adults that haven’t dealt with left handed opponent as a kid, plus I thought it was better idea to start off learning harder defence of mirrored opponent. It worked pretty well because I didn’t struggle the odd time I switched to right hand! Just a shame I had to quit when I couldn’t get lift into town anymore, as was one of the first sports that didn’t involve a horse I actually really enjoyed. At least if I get thrown back in time, I should have enough of basics to get job defending stairs that go counter clockwise!
there's no evidence for the spiral staircases.... people have done studies and found almost 50:50 in the staircases u can find it online... it's just a modern myth
Left-handed knights were not "physically unable" to joust. They were "situationally unable." It was the design and use of the weapons, etc. in a predominantly right-handed world that made jousting for left-handers impractical, not the design and use of their hands and bodies.
Very interesting and refreshing post thank you for sharing I enjoyed the history lesson
My dad was born left-handed, but was forced right in 3rd grade (he was born in 1925). The result - fortunately for him - was he became ambidextrous. After joining the Army during WWII, he won right and left pistol and rifle marksmanship medals. You could barely tell the difference between his handwriting with either hand. Me, I'm strongly left-handed and can't imagine being forced to be right as a kid.
Scharfrennen is jousting with melee weapons and no barriers. Basically it’s high risk tilt/joust. The word itself is a combination of Scharf = sharp and Rennen = race.
Load More Replies... Anyone else start singing My Sharona when reading "my schiavona"? Mah mah mah my Sharona!
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