Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 1072

Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade

9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.

6 in. (490 grams, 15 cm).

Pear-shaped ceramic vessel with domed filler-hole, circumferential impressed bands to the shoulder and equator; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

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'.

Literature

Cf. Arendt, W. I., Granaten des 13-14. Jahrhunderts, die an der Wolga gefunden sind, Zeitschrift fur Historische Waffen-und Kostumkunde, 11 (1926-8), p.42; cf. Arendt, W., Die Spharisch-konischen Gefasse aus Gebranntem Ton, ibid; cf. Ayalon, D., Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p.16.

Footnotes

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. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process


AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 1072

Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade

Sold for (Inc. bp): £104

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Winchester Repeating Rifle
    Winchester Repeating Rifle
    19th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600

    Lever action 32/40 calibre Model 1894 with 66cm (26") round rifled barrel with buckhorn sights and full length tubular magazine; two piece wood stock with steel butt plate and fore-end; serial No. 446786 to underside of action, model, calibre and other details stamped; action working crisply. 3.55 kg, 113 cm

    40 1/2 in.

    Acquired from M J Noble Ltd, UK, 2015. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by copies of invoice and listing and original NI Police Service Certificate.

    Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. Overseas bidders should note that, due to UK regulations governing export of all firearms, overseas buyers will need to make arrangements for shipping this lot out of the UK directly, by air freight, with a specialist company or agent.

    Lot Details

  • Large Western Asiatic Bronze Adze-Axehead
    Large Western Asiatic Bronze Adze-Axehead
    2nd-1st millennium B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £117

    Composed of a central cylindrical socket with collar to base and gently triangular flanges to upper face, a wedge-shaped adze-head to one side and a wedge-shaped axe head to the other, both with gently convex cutting edges. 1.1 kg, 25 cm



    Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

    Lot Details

  • Viking Age Iron Axehead
    Viking Age Iron Axehead
    11th-12th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £78

    Composed of a sub-circular socket, lozengiform flanges above and below, rectangular hammer-style butt and axe head with straight upper and curved lower edge, convex cutting edge. 729 grams, 17.8 cm



    Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list