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LOT 1445
Roman 'Julius Caesar' Slingshot from the Battle of Munda
45 B.C.
1 1/2 in. (68.9 grams, 37 mm).
A biconical facetted lentoid-section lead sling shot (glans), inscription monogram a combination of letters 'C', 'A' and 'E', for 'C A E S' referring to Julius Caesar. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the collection of an London antiquarian, 1980s.
Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 4th May 2022 and titled 'Roman Res Publica - Lead Slingshots (glandes) of Caesarian Age - 45 B.C circa'.
Accompanied by a printed copy of the Spanish cultural export licence 2022/07273.
Cf. D'Amato, R. and Sumner, G., Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier: From Marius to Commodus, 112 BC-AD 192, London, 2009, fig.32, p.45, for similar glandes from Zaragoza Museum, one with the name of Pompey inscribed also coming from Munda battlefield; 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, figs.31, 37.
FootnotesThe shot (type IIb of the Völling classification) is marked with the abbreviated name of Julius Caesar; it was used in quantity at the Battle of Monda (or Munda) against the last fellows of Pompey, the leaders of the Optimates, on the 17th March 45 BC. Similar shots were used in the Caesar's wars. The slingers of Caesar's age were part of the light infantry. Caesar speaks of his Balearic slingers during the conquest of Gaul. They wore a short tunic, with leather or rope sandals to the feet, and a warm overcoat which could also have been used to store projectiles. They also used a satchel to carry very deadly lead-like stones or bullets.
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LOT 1445
Roman 'Julius Caesar' Slingshot from the Battle of Munda
Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
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Luristan Bronze Sword
14th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £975
Of type II with crescentic pommel, the grip with V-shaped collar and penannular guard, blade with a broad, raised midrib. 684 grams, 56 cm
Ex Abelita family collection, 1988.
The crescentic pommel and the penannular guard were probably cast in a one piece-mould. These kinds of pommels are typical of the iron swords of type 2 from Luristan. A certain number of Luristan daggers and swords have bronze or iron blades with cast-on bronze hilts. The typology of winged pommel bronze grip is visible on examples in the British Museum and the National Museum of Iran. -
Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Group
13th-6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Comprising tanged arrowheads of leaf-shaped and barbed types, most with midribs. 182 grams total, 64-13.5 cm
Acquired 1990s. From the collection of a late Japanese weaponry collector.
Although some of them different in shape, these arrowheads are apparently related types of a polythetic group. There are represented two basic deltoid forms: one has a sharp, flat blade, the ends of which extend to form wings or barbs, and a prominent midrib extending into a long tang that often has a stop; the blade shape varies from deltoid to more manifestly triangular. The other form has no barbs, but it has a prominent midrib extending to the tang, the blade narrow and leaf shaped. -
Roman Iron 'Hipposandalus' Military Horseshoe
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £494
Iron shoe with lateral curved plates and vertical bar to the front, rear panel with hooked spur for attachment. 350 grams, 16.5 cm
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
Hipposandals (soleae ferreae) were used on horses with injured hooves, a sort of equine orthopaedic shoe used by the mulomedicus, i.e. a Roman military veterinarian. Another important function was that to protect the hooves of the horse from injuries and damages from hard objects. The hipposandal of type 1 was formed from a sub-oval plate which tapered towards the front and rear with projections at the front, back and on either side. The heel was upturned at about 45 degrees and flared outwards. It would have terminated with a downward facing hook, now missing. The base of the sole was flat.
