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LOT 1418
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
5 1/2 in. (719 grams, 14 cm).
Piriform in profile with domed mouth; raised lugs to the body with impressed texture in between; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade.
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'.
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 1418
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
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Scythian Iron Axehead
5th-3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Substantial small axehead with triangular-section blade, curved cutting edge, hammer-face to rear of socket. 298 grams, 11.7 cm
Acquired on the UK market before 1992. Property of a North London, UK, gentleman. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman. -
Kriegsmarine WWI German Naval Officer's Sword
Early 20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
Comprising a slender single-edged blade; the hilt composed of a wire-bound ribbed bone handle, a lion-head pommel with inset eyes (one absent), and an ornate guard with a folding edge to one side. 612 grams, 94.5 cm
From the private collection of author and historian Dr DeWitt Bailey, one of the global authorities on the confederate army in the US civil war; thence by descent to his grandson. -
Roman Lead Cnaeus Pompey Battle of Munda Slingshot
1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £247
A facetted lentoid-section sling shot (glans) with inscription in Latin letters 'CN' (Cneius) 'MAG' (Magnus) on one side, and 'IMP' for 'IMPERATOR' (victorious general) to the other side, i.e Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus Imperator (Pompey the Great the victorious general). 79.57 grams, 44 mm
From a private Tyneside collection, formed since the early 2000s.
The shot (Völling type 1C) is marked with the abbreviated name of Gnaeus Pompey; it was used in quantity at the Battle of Monda (or Munda) against Julius Caesar, 17th March 45 BC. The projectiles could be of different material: in lead (glandes) or in pottery or stone (lapides missiles). Sometimes they were signed with the name of the general, as is our specimen.
