Large Medieval Iron Incendiary Fire Arrowhead

A spherical ceramic missile with stepped shoulder and impressed annulets, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 494 grams, 12.5 cm



From a military inspired collection formed from the 1990s. 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.

With penannular guard and a multi-fullered double edged blade tapering to a sharp point, solid cast hilt made of a round handle with two decorative discs under the stone mushroom pommel. 1.06 kg, 71 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

In this sword it is possible that hilt and blade were not cast as one unit, but rather that the hilt was cast onto the blade. The thick guard is related to the crescent type, but here is almost rectangular, albeit with rounded shoulders, like in the blade of Metropolitan published by Muscarella.

Including triangular, leaf-shaped, barbed and other types. 446 grams total, 10-16.5 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

One series of arrowheads seem to belong to the category of lanceolate head and rounded shoulders from the category Type V, i.e. triangular arrowheads with rounded or angular midrib. Some other arrowheads seem to be a subcategory of subtype A of Khorasani but longer.