Name: Byzantine Hand Grenade with Geometric Design
SKU: CFF-53
Price: 265.00 GBP
Availability: OutOfStock

Byzantine Hand Grenade with Geometric Design

£ 265.00

A small Byzantine earthenware hand grenade featuring a hollow bulbous body with a pointed base. To the top, the vessel leads to a short neck and splays out slightly into a thick rim and small mouth. This allowed the vessel to be filled with an explosive liquid known as ‘Greek fire’ and used as a hand grenade in battle. The mouth would have also accommodated a fuse to instigate the explosion. As typical for Byzantine grenades, the piece displays geometric patterns to its outer surface. The upper body of the vessel features a band of spiral motifs surrounded by triangular etchings encased by two sets of vertical lines above and below. The multiple horizontal lines were not just decorative but also served as a practical purpose to provide extra grip when handling the grenade.

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Greek fire, also referred to as liquid fire (ὑγρόν πῦρ, hygron pyr), was one of the most famous weapons of the Byzantine arsenal and its use played a crucial role in the defence of the Empire, ensuring its long survival. The formula for the flammable mixture was closely guarded for centuries and irredeemably lost after the collapse of the Empire. Its precise composition thus remains unknown to this day, though research suggests that petroleum was a vital ingredient to making the liquid impervious to water. Greek fire was first used at sea where it was particularly effective against wooden ship; it was later delivered via clay grenades, either by hand or launching with a catapult.

To find out more about Byzantine hand grenades please see our relevant blog post,Byzantine Fire Grenades