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LOT 1793
Western Asiatic Bronze Arrowhead or Javelin Head with Inscribed X
LATE 2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
4 1/2 in. (15.17 grams, 11.34 cm).
Leaf-shaped with two cutting edges and a broad point, low midrib, on the face an incised 'X' in a square.
ProvenanceEx Guttman collection, Germany.
with Christie's, 28 April 2004, no.27 (part).
Acquired from Bidancient and Artifacts UK, 2009.
Ex important collection of Greek artefacts, London, UK.
Cf. Milik, J.T., Cross, F.M. and Cross, Jr., 'Inscribed Javelin-Heads from the Period of Judges: A Recent Discovery in Palestine' in Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, No. 134 (Apr., 1954), pp. 5-15, fig.1, for similar inscribed javelin or arrowheads.
FootnotesThe letter X has been found in various Semitic/Accadic or even Philistine Inscriptions in the Levant: dated between 13th-10th centuries B.C.: on the Lachish bowl no.1, on the Ruweiseh arrowhead, on a Byblian bronze spatula, on the Ahiram graffito, at Yehimilk. This suggests that the arrow or javelin head has been made in the Levant or the Fertile Crescent.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1793
Western Asiatic Bronze Arrowhead or Javelin Head with Inscribed X
Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Ovoid in profile with domed filler hole, linear decoration; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 667 grams, 12.8 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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. -
Bactrian Bronze Decorated Socketted Axehead
Bronze Age, 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £351
Comprising a short tubular socket with flared neck to the angled blade; incised herringbone ornament to both faces flanked by pounced triangular panels in bilinear bands, 104 grams, 11.6 cm
From an old English collection formed since 1960. -
Greek Iron Short Sword
Hellenistic, 2nd-1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
Lentoid in section with two cutting edges and narrow point; slight flare towards the tip; small shoulder and rectangular-section tang. 400 grams, 56 cm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
This style of straight, parallel-sided weapon is referred to in Greek sources of the time as a xiphe. It was a secondary battlefield armament after the spear and javelin. It is associated with the revolutionary developments in armour, weaponry and tactics between the Classical and Iron Age periods.
