Lot 28C
Near East, Ghaznavid Empire, ca. 10th to 12th centuries CE. This is an exceptional and LARGE INTACT AND COMPLETE ancient Near Eastern iron lance spear head from the Ghaznavid Empire. The Ghaznavid Empire is a unique and important part of world history where Eastern and Western influences converged. The dynasty represented an unusual melding of early Arabic Islam and nomadic culture. Very little of this empire has survived today and despite being once an enormous militaristic dominating force, rarely are ANY artifacts from the culture seen available for acquisition including weapons. This is a RARE opportunity to acquire an exquisitely preserved LARGE decorated iron war lance from the Ghaznavid Empire. It was likely used by a noble or high-ranking officer in actual combat as the tip shows slight bending from impact and blade shows ancient sharpening which is not done to parade or dress weapons. The shaft shows intricate engraved decorations with two intact bands of bronze embellishments. The broad blade has faint engraving seen at the base. This enormous lance was made with evidence of metal folding and forging. The blade and shaft body is intact as it was made. This enormous socketed lance is complete with no missing parts which is rare for thin iron weapons of this period. Tip and cutting edges are still sharp and the preservation of the metal is exceptional. It has been professionally cleaned and conserved to stabilize the patina and prevent deterioration or corrosion. Metal artifacts that are not treated and properly conserved may corrode over time and even disintegrate into pieces, especially ancient iron which deteriorates from the inside out. NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION OR FABRICATION. A fine and impressive infantry primary weapon from this famous empire and culture. Size: 15.75" L (40 cm)
The Ghaznavid Empire was named after the city of Ghazni in modern Afghanistan where its founder was freed from slavery and led a subsequent revolt, freeing a great number of people from the former Samanid Dynasty. It emerged from Turkic mamluk soldier slaves of the Samanids and included a unique blend of eastern and western influences. The Ghaznavids flourished in power from 977 - 1186 CE. In its height, the Ghaznavid Empire included all of Persia, Transoxania and Northern India. The Ghaznavid Empire is most notably associated with Mahmud, the son of its founder Sebuktigin. As a devout Muslim, Mahmud reshaped the Ghaznavids from their pagan Turkic origins into an Islamic dynasty and expanded the frontiers of Islam. With fierce military power and tactics, he created an empire that stretched from the Oxus to the Indus Valley and the Indian Ocean. Amongst many achievements, he is attributed with the development of the Urdu language which is a mixture of Farsi, Turkish, Arabic and Sanskrit. Urdu became the language for India and Pakistan in Arabic script. In the Indian subcontinent, Mahmud is most famously (or infamously) known for supplanting Hinduism with Islam by devastating military campaigns. Indian invasions of Mahmud were specifically directed to temple towns as Indian temples were depositories of great wealth and the economic and ideological centers of gravity for the Hindus. The Ghaznavids brought Islam to India by "fire and sword" as Mahmud once put it, and returned with fabulous riches taken from both Indian princes and temples. During this time visitors to and residents of Ghazni wrote with wonder of the ornate architecture of its buildings, the great libraries, the sumptuousness of the court ceremonies and of the wealth of precious objects owned by Ghazni's citizens. The seemingly never-ending victories of Mahmud the Ghazni brought incredible wealth and opulence into his power and he transformed the city of Ghazni into a jewel in the crown of the Islamic Caliphate of the 11th century CE. By 1040 CE, a turning point for the worse came with a horrible defeat of the Ghaznavids by the Seljuk Turks which removed all the Iranian and Central Asian region from Ghazni power. By 1130 CE, another crushing defeat took away the control of all the Indian territories and the Ghaznavid Empire did all it could to survive until its total eradication in 1186 CE. The Ghaznavid military was a formidable power. Its elite palace guard comprised 4,000-6,000 heavy cavalry. The remaining force brought the total army count to around 30,000 strong. The Ghaznavid cavalry was armed with recurve bows, maces, battleaxes, long curved swords, and even lances but this varied by soldier depending on their ethnic origin. Maces were particularly considered a weapon of military prowess and heroism. Their horses were either lightly or not armored at all.
Provenance: Former Timeline Auctions - London acquisition
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#115209
- Condition: Intact with no repair / no restoration.
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