Fragment of an iron sword - image 1

Archaic II

Fragment of an iron sword

The surviving fragment is the tang of an iron sword like 74.51.5670. The tang was edged with silver and revetted with ivory held in place with silvered bronze rivets. The two swords are exceptionally important because they correspond to weapons mentioned by the poet Homer. Typically Cypriot, they are best represented by a complete example found at Salamis, which may have been a center for their production. H. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm)

Date

599 - 500 BC

Accession No.

74.51.5672

Collection

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Provenance

References

  • Myres, John L. 1914. Handbook of the Cesnola Collection of Antiquities from Cyprus. no. 4727, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Richter, Gisela M. A. 1915. Greek, Etruscan and Roman Bronzes. no. 1464, p. 402, New York: Gilliss Press.Karageorghis, Vassos, Joan Mertens, and Marice E. Rose. 2000. Ancient Art from Cyprus: The Cesnola Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. no. 270, pp. 164-5, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.