Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 1398
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
5 1/8 in. (459 grams, 13 cm).
Piriform in profile with domed mouth, circumferential band of impressed rosettes to the equator. [No Reserve]
Provenance
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'.
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 Gefäße 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. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
CONDITIONVETTING:
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 1398
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
RELATED LOTS
-
Luristan Bronze Arrows and Blades Group
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
Comprising mainly narrow two-edged blades, barbed-and-tanged arrowheads and other types. 503 grams total, 9-20.7 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. -
Phoenician Bronze Arrowhead with Inscriptions
Circa 12th-11th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
Slender leaf-shaped two-edged blade with broad neck and sturdy tang; impressed inscriptions to both faces. 14.2 grams, 10.6 cm
Acquired on the UK art market. Property of an Essex, UK, collector.
The arrowhead seems to carry a Proto-Aramaic or Phoenician inscription like many arrows found in the Levant and Israel. They are usually reporting proper names like ‘Suwar, retainer of Abday’. As far as the function of these arrowheads is concerned, we know that the name inscribed on them was the owner's because successive owner's names were incised on two palimpsest examples. The central rib of this arrow bears on both sides a ten letter inscription, which is relatively deep and firmly incised. The inscription should be read 'ḤŞ…BN…NY = ‘arrow of K…son of…ANAY’. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Sword Blade
Circa 1000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
With rounded shoulders and square-sectioned mid-rib running to the blade tip; short tang with fastening hole. 254 grams, 34 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The Luri people produced a quantity of fine metalwork, which according to Dr Khorasani, could be due to a settled period which arose as a result of the defeat of the Elamites by the Babylonians, leaving the Luristani people in relative peace for a period of time after 1200 BC. According to Khorasani 'A culture of innovation and experimentation flourished, and the repertoire of the Luristan smiths expanded in the period between 1150–1050 BC.'
