Luristan Bronze Sword with Handle

Each with a slender, lozenge-shaped blade and a socket extending near the tip, base of the socket with a side lug. 126 grams total, 35-62 mm



UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.

In the Greek warfare archery mainly employed Scythians and Cretans for the longer-ranks. Both used composite bows made of wood, horn, bone and sinew. This explains the great range of Scythian arrowheads also found on the Greek sites.

Featuring hammered helmet detailing together with mythical creatures and coiled snakes. 1.5 kg, 30.5 cm high



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

The helmet is modelled upon the pseudo-Corinthian models of antiquity. The gryphon represented refers to the wars between these mythological creatures and the Arimaspes.

Piriform body with domed filler-hole, the upper body with a cross-shaped herringbone motif radiating from the filler hole, the space in between the arms with ring-and-annulet motifs; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 431 grams, 10.5 cm



From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 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.