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LOT 1494
Greek Slingshot with Thunderbolt
4TH-1ST CENTURY B.C.
1 1/8 in. (30.3 grams, 29 mm).
Lentoid in form with raised thunderbolt motif.
ProvenancePrivate collection, Austria.
Private collection, Europe.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
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AUCTIONS:
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Western Asiatic Arrowhead and Blade Collection
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Comprising mainly triangular and leaf-shaped tanged types, narrow blades with midrib. 725 grams total, 9.3-21 cm
From a London, UK, collection, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Greek Slingshot with Inscription
4th-1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Lentoid in form with raised legend 'AΓOPOY' beneath casting seam. 36.2 grams, 32 mm
Private collection, Austria. Private collection, Europe. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Large Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade with TL Test
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Cylindrical body with pointed tip, deep circumferential groove beneath the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 1.59 kg, 15.5 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s onwards. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report by Oxford Authentication with sample no.P125g16. 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.
