Western Asiatic Style Dagger Pair

Piriform in profile,incised concentric rings on the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 604 grams, 14 cm



From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 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.

With horizontal ribbing, triangular flange extension with hatched detailing. 2.92 grams, 28.41 mm overall, 17.62 x 16.16 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)



From a private Tyneside collection, formed since the early 2000s.

Biconical in profile with casting seam and reserved legend 'ΥΔΑ'. 38.2 grams, 29 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

The leaden bullets, which were thrown from slings, were called molivdainai (μολύβδαιναι) in Greek, and in Latin glandes; the former indicating the material ‘lead’, the latter the shape ‘acorns’. These bullets were cast in a mould and bore letters or devices, or both. In form they were more like an almond than an acorn, but many were pointed at both ends; in size, they are generally about 1.5 inches in maximum length, and under 1 inch in maximum width.