Byzantine Bronze Archer's Thumb Ring Group

A short sword or dirk with slender triangular blade, low round midrib with flat upper face, annular guard and remains of scooped shoulders, columnar grip with open sides to receive bone or wooden hilt, crescent pommel. 303 grams, 40.5 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1990s.

These bronze daggers or dirks, typical of Marlik culture, were cast in a one piece mould according to Negahban, although in some specimens the penannular guard was cast later into the blade. The separate sets of encircling ribs on the grips are again typical of swords from the Marlik area.

With double-edged blade, lozenge-sectioned shank developing from a broad central midrib, and flared neck above a tapering square-sectioned tang. 370 grams, 42.7 cm



Property of a London gentleman; acquired London art market, 2000s.

A piriform missile with domed filler-hole, and lugs to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 445 grams, 15 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s onwards. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.

Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.