Description:

Greece, late Archaic Period, ca. 500 BCE. A long bronze spear butt from a spear called a dory (also known as doru), the chief armament of Greek hoplites. It has a socket on one end for connection to the spear and a spike on the other. The socket is banded by decorative rings; the spike is square at its base and tapers to a point in a long, thin pyramid shape. Size: 0.85" W x 14.25" H (2.2 cm x 36.2 cm); height on stand: 14.5"(36.8 cm).

The spear was the main weapon used by warriors in the Iliad, and in the Archaic period, the new close-order infantry formation known as the phalanx carried on the tradition. The hoplite, the individual soldier in a phalanx, carried a large, round, bronze-faced shield known as a hoplon in one hand and, in the other, a eight-foot-long wooden spear with a leaf-shaped iron head and a bronze butt spike. The butt spike was known as a sauroter, a "lizard killer", and, if the spear was broken, could be used as a weapon on the remaining end. It could also be used to stand the spear in soft ground or as a digging tool. Some scholars also believe that they were used to pierce armor.

See an almost identical item at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (38.11.7).

Provenance: Ex-Private Orange County, CA collection

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.

#120279

  • Condition: Deep turquoise surface patina with some encrustation. Shape is excellent.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

March 2, 2017 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000