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LOT 1057
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
4 in. (355 grams, 10.3 cm).
Piriform body with domed filler-hole, marked by horizontal lines to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
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.
FootnotesApart 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.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1057
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
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Luristan Bronze Horse Bit Terminal Pair
9th-8th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,560
Comprising two terminals in the form of human-headed horned and winged sphinxes; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 218 grams total, 15 cm wide including stand
From an old London, UK, collection. Ex London, UK, gallery.
The most admirable horse bits ever created by man are undoubtedly those from Luristan, a province in the north-west of Iran which extended along the valleys that make up the central part of the Zagros mountains. Worked in cast bronze with the lost wax process, they almost always had a rigid cannon in round or square bars which were flattened and rolled up around themselves at the ends, but their exceptional feature were the figural side bars. The local metalsmiths, in a period of time between 1200 and 700 B.C. managed to create an infinite number of typologies: horses, oxen, ibex, roosters and various mythological animals. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Tanged Spearhead
Circa 13th-6th century B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
With leaf-shaped blade and rounded tip, pronounced medial rib and shoulder flanges, short flat-section tang. 255 grams, 31 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The spearhead belongs to type 2 of spearheads according to the classification of Khorasani. A similar specimen was excavated by Negahban in Marlik. -
Roman Stone and Lead Sling Shot Group
2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
Comprising two lentoid-section, one a lead glans, and another in stone. 121 grams total, 47-58 mm
Ex Simmons Gallery, London E11, UK, in the 1990s. From a North London collection.
Both the missiles seem to be of ovoid type, type Ia of the Völling classification. The pair finds parallels with examples unearthed at Ham Hill, Somerset, UK. The sling (funda) with its lead missiles (plumbea pondera or glandae) and stone (lapides) was used by special funditores, illustrated on Trajan’s Column where they are simply dressed in broad tunics with no armour, but carry a shield. A fold in their cloak, or sagulum, acted as an ammunition bag. The effectiveness of the slingers was unquestionable and much appreciated, especially against elephants. Celsus, writing towards the end of the 2nd century A.D., described how a slingshot wound was more dangerous and harder to treat than one inflicted by an arrow.
