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THBRare Roman Iron Battle Pilum (Javelin)
Lot 70
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$2,400 - $3,600
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| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
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| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Sep 26, 2019
Set Reminder
2019-09-26 10:00:00
2019-09-26 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Day 1: Antiquities & Asian Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-day-1-antiquities-asian-art-4437
Day 1 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional, museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Viking, Russian, Near Eastern, as well as Asian Art from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma and India. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Day 1 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional, museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Viking, Russian, Near Eastern, as well as Asian Art from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma and India. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (328)
- Lot Description
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A rare find, an iron shank and tip from a pilum, the Roman javelin. This socketed piece of iron would have been fitted over a wooden shaft to make a weapon as tall as its wielder. The tip features a straight spike with a single deadly hook to allow it to stick into its target and rip the flesh. Fascinatingly, the reason this example is bent is because of deliberate design - the tip was made of hard iron, but the shank itself was made of softer iron, so that it would bend once used, thus rendering it useless for the enemy to throw back. The design of the tip made the pilum formidable at piercing armor and likely inspired the medieval bodkin arrow. Size: 1" W x 19" H (2.5 cm x 48.3 cm); 12.5" H (31.8 cm) on included custom stand.
In his treatise "De Re Militari", the Roman author Vegetius (ca. late 4th century) wrote, "As to the missile weapons of the infantry, they were javelins headed with a triangular sharp iron… called piles. When once fixed in the shield it was impossible to draw them out, and when thrown with force and skill, they penetrated the cuirass without difficulty." Caesar also describes the weapon in "Gallic War" (1.25.2-4). Experimental archaeology has confirmed that, if thrown properly, it could indeed pierce armor!
Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#149701Bent as shown. Otherwise in very nice condition. The surface has been cleaned and stabilized to prevent corrosion.Condition
- Shipping Info
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