Bow Reach

Overview

The Bow Reach is said to have been named as such because it looks like a bow without a string. It is said to be named after the Bow of Hercules.

The Legend of the Bow

The Bow of Hercules is the bow that he used to defeat his own archery teacher in a contest. It was later to be controlled by Philoctetes, who under prophecy had to take the Bow to the Siege of Troy. Once there the bow brought certain victory.

However, another legend linked to the Bow Reach is the Bow of Eurytus, (Εὔρυτος) who was the archery teacher of Hercules. Eurytus himself was the Grandson of Apollo, but in his arrogance he challenged the God to an archery contest and was slain in the process. The Bow of Eurytus passed to his son Iphitos, who then passed it to the hero Odysseus.

It has not been clear which of the two bows was intended as the source for the name of the Reach, but it is always said to include Hercules in some way.