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LOT 1150
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
CIRCA 11TH-14TH CENTURY A.D.
6 in. (573 grams, 15 cm).
With a piriform body and domed mouth, stepped rings to the foot, engraved decoration on the shoulders with crosses and grapes; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1990s.
From the H.N. collection, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK.
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'.
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; for the way of employment see D'Amato, R., Byzantine Naval Forces 1261-1461, The Roman Empire's Last Marines, Oxford, 2016, plate B, p.41.
FootnotesApart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also in 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.
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LOT 1150
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
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Marlik Type Bronze Decorated Spearhead
13th-12th century B.C.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £160
With a long blade, broad midrib, rectangular-section long tang, engraved reinforced shaft and rounded shoulders. 481 grams, 43 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
In this category (Type II of the Khorasani typology) the blade has three fullers, and the shaft is usually engraved with diagonal lines. Similar spearheads were excavated by Dr Negahban in Marlik. -
Greek and Other Mixed Arrowhead Collection
Circa 17th millennium B.C.-6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Comprising a Mesolithic flint arrowhead of triangular form; a paddle shaped arrowhead with a flat, comparatively wide mid-rib (Elamite or Old Babylonian); a fully developed bronze arrowhead with a large lozenge-section midrib and triangular barbed blade; an arrowhead with a long slender blade with rounded shoulders and wide flat mid-rib (both Luristan); two bronze arrowheads with slender lozenge-shaped blade and socket extending near the tip, with a side lug (Scythian); a lozenge form blade with a wide socket and high mid-rib (Greek); a large arrowhead with leaf-shaped blade and thin stop ridge collar; a sub-triangular arrowhead with the blade running diagonally to the stop ridge collar at its base; a lozenge-shaped arrowhead with a flat blade, circular stop ridge and long spiked tang (all three Roman); a bronze votive arrow. 75 grams total, 32-96 mm
Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Ruislip, UK, gentleman, by inheritance.
In the Greek warfare, archers were mainly employed by Scythians and Cretans. Both used composite bows made of wood, horn, bone and sinew. This explains the great range of Scythian arrowheads also found on the Greek sites. -
Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Group
12th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Comprising seventeen tanged arrowheads, most of them having large elongated triangular blades and raised midrib; one with long tang. 105 grams total, 34 - 82 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
Most of these arrowhead seem to belong to the type V, subcategory types A and C according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes A and C are small triangular arrowheads with barbed shoulders. The arrowhead with squared shoulders belongs to type III of the same classification.
