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LOT 1459
Greek Lead Slingshot
3RD-1ST CENTURY B.C.
1 1/4 in. (25.6 grams, 31 mm).
Biconical in profile with casting seam and reserved legend 'ΛY-P-N' = maybe ΛYKOΦ-PONO = Lykophronos (name). [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired on the German art market before 2000.
Private collection, Munich, Germany.
See Schinco, G., Small, A.M., 'A previously unknown siege of Botromagno/Silvium: the evidence of slingshots from Gravina in Puglia (Provincia di Bari, Puglia)' in Papers of the British School at Rome, 2019, pp.1-52, fig.37, type iib of Volling, for similar.
FootnotesThe leaden bullets, which were thrown from slings, were called in Greek molivdainai (μολύβδαιναι), and in Latin glandes; the former indicating the material ‘lead’, the latter the shape ‘acorns’. These bullets were cast in a mould and bore letters or devices, or both, on two sides or on only one. In form they were more like an almond than an acorn, but many are pointed at both ends.
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Luristan Bronze Short Sword
2nd-1st millennium B.C. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £468
With tapering, double-edged triangular blade and central midrib; crescent-shaped, tri-lobed guard at the shoulder; restored decorated cylindrical hilt with domed stone pommel. 878 grams, 54.2 cm
From a North West London collection; previously acquired in the 1980s. -
Viking Age Iron Socketted Hooked Axehead
Circa 9th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
With long, deeply curved blade, short neck, socket with triangular wings above and below; professionally cleaned, conserved, and restored. 460 grams, 15 cm
Cleaned, conserved and restored.
From the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s.
These axes are typical of Baltic workmanship. During this age, the axes were the favourite weapons of many Baltic people, including the Curonian army which included lightly armed soldiers who fought with spears, shields, fighting knives and axes. A heavily armed soldier could also carry a sword, a helmet, a shield, and a wide-bladed axe. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Piriform in profile with domed mouth and impressed motifs to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 400 grams, 10.5 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'.
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.
