Object Description
A Byzantine earthenware hand grenade featuring an elongated conical body with a flat base terminal. To the top, the vessel leads to a short neck and splays out slightly into a thick rim with a small mouth. This allowed the item 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. The grenade is adorned with three vertical ridges which extend from the neck to the mid/lower body. The ridges would have been used for a better grip.
Date: Circa 9th-11th century AD