Robert Terwilliger wrote: > > All, > > This is the sort of (Way.... off topic) reply that should properly be > addressed to the sender only. > > But... > > J D S wrote: > > > these swords protruded out to the left of the rider and if two of these > > gentlemen met in a narrow lane there would be a clash of swords > > I have not been keeping close track of this thread. Did we cover the > excellent and venerable reason why the English drive on the left? > > Consider a (right-handed) knight - riding on the left side of a road - > meeting an oncoming knight, who is also riding on his left side of the > road. > > Should they draw their swords with their right arms, they will be in the > best position to defend themselves, and to do battle with each other. > > Perhaps that's common knowledge?? - or at least a popular trivia > question. > > Since we are so far off topic, let's take right-handed knights one step > further. > > Staircases in medieval castles were usually built right into the walls > and were in the form of spirals. A Master Mason building a castle would > know to make his stair cases spiral clockwise as they ascended. > > Thus an attacker coming up the stairs would have to fight with his left > arm while a defender retreating backwards up the stairs could fight with > his right. >
Also this arrangement makes it more comfortable for the gentleman coming back home from work or... from the bar with his sword hanging on the left side to get up the stairs without making too much noise hitting every stairs? But then when he was going out (down), the situation would not be so good: that's maybe why they eventually invented double stairs? Sorry, couldn't resist... Now, to get on track again, maybe a sword could do as a gnomon? -- __________________________________ Thierry vS 50.5N 4.3E mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________ > > I hope this was not a waste of time. Medieval studies, chivalry, and > castles are interests of mine. > > Bob > > -
