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RARE HEAVY ARMOR-PIERCING ANCIENT GREEK BRONZE CAVALRY LANCE FROM THE CENTRAL ASIAN CONQUESTS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT Central Asia 327 B.C. For the first time in our history, we are pleased to offer a very rare ancient Greek BRONZE CAVALRY LANCE from a Central Asian site that was once defeated and ruled by Alexander the Great. Authentic Ancient Greek weapons are extremely scarce on the commercial market and are far outnumbered by later Roman examples. This is one of the heaviest bronze lance heads we have handled for its dimensions. It clearly was meant to strike an enemy with force and such momentum allow the narrow head to pierce light armor such as quilted cloth and leather as well as wood and reed shields typical to the enemy of this region and time. By this time, iron weapons were widely deployed but less brittle and more durable bronze had its uses in battle, still. To compensate for the lack of strength compared to iron, this spear head was cast and is unusually robust with an armor-piercing narrow head. The unusually large shaft base is typical for cavalry lances where increased impact forces would have shattered normal thickness spear shafts. The narrow head not only allows effective penetration but also prevents the weapon from remaining embedded in an enemy or enemy's shield where such a condition would have proven deadly to a mounted soldier. This type of weapon was not meant to be thrust and left into the enemy and perhaps, it had religious purpose being once made of gleaming golden bronze. Such a weapon in bronze at this time would also have been a prestige weapon of military rank or command as a shining gold weapon would have stood out in a sea of gray iron weaponry. We recently sold a rare iron example of this same region, provenance and period. This is the ONLY ancient Greek BRONZE weapon we have to offer and likely will be one of a very few (or none) we will ever offer in the future. Its provenance is certain and therefore places not only a culture to this piece, but the context as to why it was there hence our attribution of this weapon to the Central Asian military campaign of Alexander the Great. The specific site will be provided to the buyer only (to protect the site from looting) of this piece which exactly and accurately assigns the correct provenance of this piece to Alexander the Great. Unlike other sellers that make up romantic and fascinating names and battles randomly to artifacts that are IMPOSSIBLE to prove or know provenance just to make more sales, we are in definite knowledge of the provenance of this rare and important specimen of ancient historical significance. This lance head is complete and in a condition beyond what one would expect. This is a RARE opportunity to acquire such a piece of profound ancient history and military accomplishment. Its coveted green mineralized patina is 100% ORIGINAL and the metal surfaces are impeccably preserved. The weapon still has its original attachment hole in the shaft where it would have been affixed to a long wooden pole. NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION OR FABRICATION. A fine and impressive cavalry weapon from this famous empire and culture. WARNING: There is a number of fake and misidentified ancient weapons on the market. As fine quality intact, original specimens become more scarce and techniques have become more sophisticated to fake these weapons. We inspect, clean and conserve in our lab every specimen we offer for sale. Our extensive experience with handling thousands of pieces from museum and private collections has afforded us rare and invaluable experience with authentic specimens as well as convincing forgeries. The degree to which the fakers have been able to replicate patina to disguise their work requires an expert examination by highly experienced individuals. It is common to find very reasonably priced weapons that are made up of part original and part modern components or wholly modern pieces displaying elaborate artificial patinas. All purchases should include from the dealer a written guarantee of authenticity with unconditional and lifetime return policies regarding such guarantee. Alexander the Great is considered one of the most important individuals of ancient history. His conquests created an empire, short-lived as it had been, that was one of the largest in all of antiquity. His cultural influences were felt all the way through the 15th century A.D. up to the fall of the Byzantine Roman Empire. He is considered to have been undefeated in battle with victories that spanned from the Balkans all the way to the Indian sub-continent. Even today, military academies study and teach his strategies and tactics in combat. Alexander was born 356 B.C. in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia. He was the son of Philip II, king of Macedonia, and of Olympias, a princess of Epirus. His tutor was Aristotle, who trained him in rhetoric and literature and stimulated his interest in science, medicine and philosophy. In the summer of 336 B.C., his father was assassinated and Alexander ascended to the Macedonian throne. At this time, Alexander (and his kingdom) was extremely vulnerable with considerable unrest at home and abroad. This was all put to rest by a string of events that immediately elevated Alexander III to being known as Alexander the Great. In 335B.C., as general of the Greeks, Alexander carried out a successful campaign against the Thracians defeating them swiftly. On his return he crushed in a single week, the threatening Illyrians and then hastened to Thebes, which had revolted. He took the city by storm and razed it, sparing only the temples of the gods and the houses of the Greek lyric poet Pindar, and selling the surviving 8000 inhabitants, into slavery. Alexander's promptness in crushing the revolt of Thebes brought the other Greek states into instant and unconditional submission. It is said that while visiting Athens to seal a pact, Alexander visited the Oracle at Delphi despite it being a day when prophecy was forbidden. In his attempts to drag the priestess to the place where she gave her Oracles, she screamed, "My son, you are invincible!" This event would never be forgotten and had profound influence on Alexander's boldness and self image for the rest of his short life. Alexander was a great military mind having been the son of a great warrior and tactician. By the time Alexander had come to rule, he had already taken part in numerous battles with his father. Alexander's father, Philip II, developed the PHALANX, the most notable and effective weapon of ancient Greece. The phalanx was a box formation for infantry soldiers from 8 to 36 men deep. The men in the front carried spears of about four to six meters (12 to 18 feet), that were usually held in an upright position so tight that it created a wall. This wall of spears helped hide what was going on with the units behind the formation. When held horizontally, enemies could be killed at a safe range from the formation. The phalanx was revolutionary for its time and was a very potent weapon. It was only surpassed when the Romans developed the legion, another infantry formation with different weapons and armor. Alexander was able to put together a very impressive army and his military accomplishments are legendary. He was an expert at organizing his units for complex battle maneuvers, hiding the true numbers that make up of his forces, and managing his army during the ever-changing flow of battle. Near the point of his death he began to believe he was a god and promoted himself as such to his kingdom. He claimed he descended from Herakles (Hercules) and began minting coins that depicted himself as Herakles. His mother even told him that a serpent had impregnated her rather then his father (whom she passionately despised shortly after his birth) adding to his thoughts that he was a god. Before his death, Alexander the Great had some of his cities worship him as a god. With his accomplishments and influence on the classic ancient world that lasted long after his untimely death at the age of just 33, no mortal truly came closer to being a "god" than Alexander the Great! EXCEPTIONAL MUSEUM GRADE GREEK BRONZE CAVALRY LANCE - FROM CENTRAL ASIAN SITE OF FORMER ALEXANDER THE GREAT 6.25" in length SOLD GRK003 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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