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COMPLETE AND WELL-PRESERVED BYZANTINE ROMAN IRON FIRE-STARTER STRIKING TOOL Northeastern Bulgaria MIDDLE BYZANTINE PERIOD: 6th - 11th CENTURY AD This iron fire starter (or fire lighter) striking tool was made for and used by the Byzantine Christian Roman armies stationed and defending the Empire's northern border in Northern Bulgaria along the Danube River. It was a classic and important tool of the Byzantine Christian Period of the Romans as this region was the northern-most boundary of the Roman Empire for most of its duration and evolution into Byzantium right up until 1336 AD when Bulgaria fell under Ottoman rule. In the Balkans, Roman camps and fortresses along the Danube were constantly being challenged by opposing tribes and armies. The river served as a natural barrier against attacks from the north. Collected from a region that was once occupied by the Byzantine Roman military as they fought against the challengers of the Christian Roman Empire, this artifact was utilized by Roman soldiers in defense of Byzantium. Authentic Middle Byzantine Period tools and weapons are historically important and fascinating. They are seldom offered in the public market and usually when sold, are of inferior preservation if iron. This is the only Byzantine Roman iron fire starter we have available for sale. It is an exceptional specimen and in very good preservation. Condition is complete with no portion of the tool missing. NO RESTORATION, REPAIR OR MODERN DAMAGE. Patina is a fine stabilized dark brown. This tool was used in conjunction with a flint stone striker. The tool was held in the hand as shown above, over a small pile of tinder. The flint piece was struck against it creating hot sparks that fell on the tinder and began the burning process. A great accompaniment to the numerous weapons we have listed in this section. NOTE: Unlike bronze and copper ancient artifacts that are stable with their protective ancient patinas, iron is UNSTABLE and must be properly conserved by a knowledgeable preparator. Lack of proper treatment will cause the valuable specimen to continue to corrode as it is exposed to air. Simply painting some type of coating over the surface is entirely insufficient. Iron disintegrates and decomposes from the inside out so by the time the piece is seen to be structurally damaged, it is too late to salvage if it has not been properly conserved. Unlike nearly every other dealer in iron weapons and artifacts, we personally conserve all our specimens in our own lab to ensure that every item we sell has been protected to last. The Roman sagittarii or archers were either formed out of auxiliary units or were trained members of the Legion. Many Roman units of bowmen were originally recruited in the Middle East and in the Danubian provinces. Trajan's column shows these troops using distinctive native clothing and equipment including conical helmets, chain mail, long tunics and powerful composite bows fashioned of laminate wood and horn. A diverse variety of arrowheads were employed. Heavy tri-lobed projectile points were designed to penetrate armor with leaf-shaped points effective on "soft targets". Throughout the Near East arrows were normally secured to their shafts with a tang rather than a socket as in western Europe. In the "single use" situation of warfare, this method was just as effective and required less construction time and materials. Arrow shafts were usually constructed out of wood but cane was sometimes employed. Each archer carried an average of 30-40 arrows in their quiver. In addition to full sized arrows, Roman archers would also fire small arrows or darts down a channel called a solinarion. Such darts have about double the range of a full-sized arrow and are harder to see. They were used as harassing fire against approaching formations. While a dart would rarely cause fatal injury, striking a man or horse in the face or eye would be a serious discouragement and help to break up a formation. Archers were sometimes employed as skirmishers or deployed behind lines of heavy infantry to provide covering fire. The simultaneous storm of thousands of arrows raining down upon enemy troops must have been a nightmarish site! The opening battle scene of the film 'Gladiator' reenacts to exactness the visual horror and deadly effect the Roman archers had against enemies of the Empire! Perhaps no other epoch in history is so unique, extensive and yet, as much forgotten as that of the Byzantine Roman Empire. From the founding of its new capitol in Constantinople, 330 AD to its final fall to the Ottoman invaders in 1453, over eleven hundred years of history has virtually been lost in most minds of the Western world. Ironically, it is this exact history that has extensively shaped the Western cultures today, especially those of the Christian faith.
In the Byzantine
Period, the Roman Empire and Christianity were completely interwoven.
It was the quintessential example of the UNION of church and state.
What was once the ancient world's greatest enemy of the faith, A well-known remnant of the Byzantine Period is the stunning and unique art of the religious Icons. This abstract spiritual style can be immediately recognized and is evident in not only paintings and mosaics but also the era's architecture and coins. What was once thought of as crude numismatic issues are now appreciated as highly stylized symbols of the Romans' devout faith. After the establishment of Constantinople as the new capitol and navel of the Roman world, the Empire continued for almost a millennium eventually bridging ancient and medieval history but not without its share of enemies. Numerous challenges of foreign armies took its toll on defenses and finally, on May 29, 1453 AD, the Muslim Ottomans overran the crumbling city walls and the sun set forever on the greatest empire that the ancient world had ever known. ONLY FIRE-STARTER SPECIMEN WE HAVE TO OFFER - FINEST CONDITION! 2.7" in length SOLD CBI-036 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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No event in Western
history was probably more pivotal than that of the Christian conversion
of the Roman emperor Constantine I. Up to that time, Christians
were heavily persecuted by many of the previous emperors and the
religion was outlawed. That would all change in 324 AD with a
miraculous military victory and subsequent conversion to Christianity by
Constantine I at the Milvian Bridge. From this point on,
Christianity became the official religion of the Empire. A new
capitol was established in Constantinople (present day Istanbul, Turkey)
and power was fully transferred from Rome to Constantinople in 476 AD.
It was not the end of the Roman Empire but a continuation and
fascinating transformation of Roman rule that would last for another one
thousand years!
overnight
became its most devoted advocate. The classic architecture, style
of dress, and overall appearance of all that was "Old Rome"
took on a new and intricate style that the world has never seen before
or since. This was not only attributed to the influence of the
capitol's new geographic location, but also to the foremost prominence
of Christianity in the Roman world. 