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LOT 1589
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
5 3/8 in. (826 grams, 13.5 cm).
Piriform in profile with stepped shoulder and domed mouth. impressed cord motifs. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom a specialist London, UK, arms and armour collection, 1990s.
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.
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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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1589
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
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Luristan Bronze Spearhead
13th-7th century B.C.Estimate: £250 - 350 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £130
Composed of a leaf-shaped blade with tapering socket. 161 grams, 31.5 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. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A large piriform missile with domed filler-hole, a band of stamped scroll motifs to the shoulder, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 960 grams, 15 cm
From 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. -
Byzantine Iron Bearded Axehead with Spike
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
Double-edged battle axe with broad trapezoidal blade elongated towards the bottom, with rhomboidal and blunt fixing hole shaft, the opposite end formed by a long and thick spike. 411 grams, 22.7 cm
Ex USA private collection, 1970s-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The double-edged axe was used by the Roman cavalry between the 9th and 11th centuries. The correspondence of this example with the types described by Emperor Leo VI the Wise, is surprising: it is clear that this typology was not a working tool but a war axe, suitable for breaking helmets, breastplates, shields and skulls since it inflicted devastating blows to the head and arms by damaging the protective equipment.
