Description:

Ancient Near East, Holy Land, Byzantine Empire, ca. 8th to 10th century CE. A fine terracotta hand grenade with a round base, a spherical body with a couple of shallow indentations, a sloped shoulder, and a narrow neck surmounted with a thick rim. The interior would have been filled with Greek fire, the infamous flammable concoction invented by the Byzantines and kept as a state secret, and then plugged with a wick. The wick would be lit just prior to the grenade being thrown, and the conflagratory results were utterly devastating to anything the Greek fire touched. Size: 4.1" W x 4.75" H (10.4 cm x 12.1 cm).

Provenance: private Tennessee, USA collection

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#150379

  • Condition: Small area of loss to rim as shown. Minor abrasions and pitting to base, body, and rim, with light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits throughout.

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December 17, 2020 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000