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LOT 0988
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
3 5/8 in. (260 grams, 92 mm).
Piriform body with domed filler-hole, band of rosettes within circles to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 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'.
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 Gefäße 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. 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 0988
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
Piriform body with domed filler-hole, three rows of impressed ring-and-dot motifs to the upper body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 460 grams, 11.4 cm
From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 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. -
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Byzantine Bronze Artefact Collection
6th century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £104
Mainly comprising ornamental buckles and mounts, including openwork and zoomorphic examples. 115 grams total, 28-71 mm
Acquired in London in 1982. Property of a central London gentleman. -
Byzantine Gold Filigree Heart-Shaped Pendant
5th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £598
Hollow with three filigree circles to the underside each with scrolled filigree fill, pierced sidewall, three openwork filigree domes to the obverse with granules and a tubular cell to the apex of the lower one. 2.92 grams, 24 mm
Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970s-2000s.
