The Persians army employed volleys of arrows, slingshots, and javelins against the Greeks in Gaugalema[21] and Thermopylae.[22][23] Ancient Greeks and Romans used arrow volleys.[24][20][19] The goddess Artemis was called “‘of the showering arrows”.[25][26]
In medieval Europe, after the initial volley, archers would fire single shots at individual enemies.[27] Examples include the Battle of Hastings in 1066,[28] Battle of Crécy in 1346[19] and the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.[29]
I’d imagine it’s possible that a volley meant that they started drawing at the same time rather than drawing and waiting.
“Ready your bows!”
“Nock!”
“Mark!”
“Draw!”
“Loose!”
“Nock! Nock!”
“Who’s there?”
“Mark!”
“Mark who?”
Volley fire wasn’t a thing with bows. You ever try holding a 90lb war bow at full draw waiting for someone to yell “Loose”? Never happened.
Wikipedia seems to disagree:
I’d imagine it’s possible that a volley meant that they started drawing at the same time rather than drawing and waiting.