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LOT 1465
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
5 5/8 in. (612 grams, 14.3 cm).
Piriform in profile with narrow point and domed mouth; bands of concentric circles to the upper body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and 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.
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 1465
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
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Large Luristan Bronze Spearhead
Late 3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Leaf-shaped blade with pronounced midrib and thick neck, flared base, square-section tang with stud. 504 grams, 41cm
Ex London art market, 1980-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The type belongs to the category of tripartite lances with long pointed biconvex blade and single bevelled tang. In this typology the blade, of rhomboidal section, is usually well balanced. The stem, medium or short, is widened at its base and forms a fairly clean stop. Elements of shaft of a similar spear found at Tepe Hissar has allowed to reconstruct the length of the spear reaching up to 1.40 m. -
Canaanite 'Window' Bronze Axehead
2100-1800 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £737
Curving blade with two large 'eye-shaped' openings, cylindrical socket. 142 grams, 11 cm
Acquired in the mid 1980s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The ‘window’ axes have several morphological characteristics. The blade, semi-circular or elongated in shape, always ended in a rounded edge. In this type the blade was flat in section. It included two openings at its base—windows—of varying width, circular or oval. The haft consisted of a collar as wide as the blade. The weapon was threaded into an elongated wooden handle, often curved at its base, of oval section, with a differential width promoting the strength of the haft. It was thus wedged, and a rivet passed through the handle, just above the axe, serving as a stop. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
Bulbous in profile with domed mouth; radiating lines beneath the neck; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 395 grams, 11.3 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.
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.
