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LOT 1669
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
6 7/8 in. (1.19 kg, 17.5 cm).
A large piriform missile with raised lugs and impressed teardrop-shaped motifs to the body, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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'.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
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. 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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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1669
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
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Luristan Bronze Dagger
12th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
The blade with raised central shallow rib and with separated crescent quillon, fitted with an integral rectangular-section lentoid pommel. 165 grams, 30.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The men who built the gravestones found in Luristan in the Middle Bronze Age, favoured offensive weaponry: bow, dagger, sword, spear, and javelin. The oldest daggers consisted of a blade and a wooden hilt. The blades were cast together with the tang and regularly featured a groove in the middle. Over time, during the Late Bronze Age, in addition to hilts filled with organic material, the daggers in which the hilt was cast in one piece with the blade developed. -
Luristan Bronze Dirk
10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
A short sword with lentoid-section triangular blade, rhomboid guard, hilt with later organic filling to each face. 228 grams, 34 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The type Dirk I according to the classification of Medvedskaya is common among dirks and daggers attributed to Luristan. The hilt is flanged and accepts inlays remnants of organic material on the handle. There are also two angular indentations on each side of the guard. -
Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Group
13th-6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Including heater-shaped, barbed, triangular and other tanged types. 408 grams total, 10-16.7 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
