The bow and arrow is one of humanity's oldest weapons, allowing people to target enemies or prey from a distance.Before the discovery of metal, arrowheads were made of stone. The oldest known arrows date back to the fourth millennium BCE. In the third millennium BCE, copper was discovered, followed by bronze. However, in the first millennium BCE, with the discovery of iron, this metal was used to make arrowheads. Examples of ancient arrows are preserved in the National Museum of Iran and the Persepolis Museum.

An arrow consisted of a sturdy shaft or eagle feather, with a sharp, triangular iron tip attached to its end, which was launched toward the enemy or prey using a bow.A bow was made from a curved piece of wood, with its two ends tightly bound by a string to form a semi-circular shape.

In the reliefs of Persepolis, quivers of Persian soldiers can be seen tied to their backs, with several arrows hanging from the top.

Darius the Great, in one of his inscriptions at Naqsh-e Rostam, boasts of his skill in archery and horsemanship, stating that he was an expert archer both on horseback and on foot.