Ca. 900-1200 AD A "fire grenade" comprising a grey ceramic vessel with a spheroconical body, short, squat neck, and domed rim. Globular vessels such as this example are frequently interpreted as an early type of hand grenades. It is believed that these jars could have contained an incendiary agent such as the infamous "Greek fire" which was impervious to water, making them invaluable weapons in naval battles. Unfortunately, the recipe for "Greek fire was lost with the fall of the Byzantine empire, but it was likely a petroleum-based mixture. Size: L:151mm / W:82mm ; 635g Provenance: Private UK collection; From an old London collection formed in the 1990s.