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LATE ROMAN BYZANTINE IRON CAVALRY THROWING SPEARHEAD Danube River Valley, Balkan Region MIDDLE BYZANTINE PERIOD: 6th - 11th CENTURY AD This iron weapon was made for and used by the Byzantine Christian Roman armies defending the Empire's northern border along the Danube River in the present day Balkans. It was a classic and important weapon 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 the area 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 arrowhead was utilized by Roman soldiers in one of the many violent and frequent battles that took place in defense of Byzantium. Authentic Roman Byzantine Empire weapons of guaranteed provenance are historically important and fascinating. Rarely are they identified correctly and usually when sold, are of inferior preservation if iron. This specimen is a socketed iron throwing spearhead. A spearhead of this design would have been employed by Roman cavalry as they rode up on enemy ranks and hurled such spears into their foes. The reduced head made it easy to quickly remove the spear and wield again should the opportunity present itself. The cavalry was the most powerful and important weapon of the Byzantine Roman military as opposed to the ground forces of the earlier Roman Empire. Protection and support of the cavalry was vital to victory. Loss of the cavalry was a sure defeat as the ground troops in the Byzantine Roman army by this era were ill-equipped and inferior to the invader armies. At this time in Roman history, the cavalry was the primary strength of the Roman military! Chemically stabilized. NO RESTORATION, REPAIR OR MODERN DAMAGE. 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. LOW PROFILE THROWING DESIGN - FROM THE CHRISTIAN ROMAN EMPIRE! 4" in length $175 R027 Actual Item - One Only |
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Balkan Region, Eastern Europe |
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175 |
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. 