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LOT 1583
Byzantine Iron Bearded Axehead with Spike
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
9 in. (411 grams, 22.7 cm).
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. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx 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.
Cf. D'Amato, R., 'Armi e strumenti di lavoro da Iasos (Tools and weapons from Iasos)' in Bollettino dell'associazione Iasos di Caria, 23, Ferrara, 2017, pp.2-13, fig. 11, p.9.
FootnotesThe 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.
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