A Note on “Grenades” as Fire-starter Flasks
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/jia.v3i2.32825Keywords:
grenades, spero-conical vessels, aeliopiles, istabl 'Antar, Cairo, Quseir al-qadim, Khirbat al-MafjarAbstract
The paper provides a short note on the function of sphero-conical vessels as either fire-blowers (aeolipiles) or as fire-starter flasks. The evolution of the form is briefly recounted from examples in Egyptian excavations, with additional examples from Quseir al-Qadim and Khirbet al-Mafjar. These latter examples strongly indicate domestic use and suggest a primary function in enhancement of fire.
References
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Burke, K. S.
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Ettinghausen, R.
1965. “The uses of sphero-conical vessels in the Muslim East.” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 24: 218–229. https://doi.org/10.1086/371816
Gayraud, R. P., J. C. Treglia, and L. Vallauri.
2009. “Assemblages de céramiques égyptiennes et témoins de production, datés par les fouilles d’Istabl Antar, Fustat (IXe-Xe siècles).” In Actas del VIII Congreso Internacional de cerámica medieval en el Mediterráneo, edited by J. Zozaya, 171–191. Ciudad Real-Almagro: Asociacio?n Espan?ola de Arqueologi?a Medieval.
Ghouchani, A. and C. Adle.
1992. “A sphero-conical vessel as fuqq??a, or a gourd for ‘beer’.” Muqarnas 9: 72–92. https://doi.org/10.2307/1523137
Hildburgh, W. L.
1951 “Aeolipiles as fire blowers.” Archaeologia 94: 27–55. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261340900007207
Prag, K.
2006. “Defensive ditches in Ottoman fortifications in Bilad al-Sham.” Muslim Military Architecture in Greater Syria, from the Coming of Islam to the Ottoman Period. edited by H. Kennedy, 295–306. Leiden: Brill.
Savage-Smith, E.
1997. “Sphero-conical vessels: A typology of forms and functions.” In Science, Tools and Magic, Part Two: Mundane Worlds, Volume XII Part 2, edited by E. Savage-Smith, 324–333. Oxford: The Nasser D. Khalily Collection of Islamic Art.
Seyrig, H.
1959. “Antiquités syriennes, 75. Flacons? grenades? éolipiles?”Syria 36: 81–89.
Whitcomb, D.
2016. “The Mosques of Mafjar: A Sequence and some implications for understanding Qasr Hisham.” In Proceedings of the 9th Interntional Congress of the Archaeology of he Ancient Near East, Islamic Session, edited by D. Genequand, 469–478. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
Whitcomb, D., and H. Taha.
2013. “Khirbat al-Mafjar and its place in the archaeological heritage of Palestine.” Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies 1: 54–65. https://doi.org/10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.1.1.0054
Williams, G.
n.d. “A cooking installation at Khirbet al-Mafjar." Presentation at ASOR meetings, Atlanta, 2015.
1980. “A re-examination of Islamic ceramic grenades.” ?Atiqot 14, 114–115. Jerusalem: Department of Antiquities and Museums.
Burke, K. S.
2007. “Archaeological texts and contexts on the Red Sea: The Sheikh’s house at Quseir al-Qadim.” Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Chicago.
Ettinghausen, R.
1965. “The uses of sphero-conical vessels in the Muslim East.” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 24: 218–229. https://doi.org/10.1086/371816
Gayraud, R. P., J. C. Treglia, and L. Vallauri.
2009. “Assemblages de céramiques égyptiennes et témoins de production, datés par les fouilles d’Istabl Antar, Fustat (IXe-Xe siècles).” In Actas del VIII Congreso Internacional de cerámica medieval en el Mediterráneo, edited by J. Zozaya, 171–191. Ciudad Real-Almagro: Asociacio?n Espan?ola de Arqueologi?a Medieval.
Ghouchani, A. and C. Adle.
1992. “A sphero-conical vessel as fuqq??a, or a gourd for ‘beer’.” Muqarnas 9: 72–92. https://doi.org/10.2307/1523137
Hildburgh, W. L.
1951 “Aeolipiles as fire blowers.” Archaeologia 94: 27–55. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261340900007207
Prag, K.
2006. “Defensive ditches in Ottoman fortifications in Bilad al-Sham.” Muslim Military Architecture in Greater Syria, from the Coming of Islam to the Ottoman Period. edited by H. Kennedy, 295–306. Leiden: Brill.
Savage-Smith, E.
1997. “Sphero-conical vessels: A typology of forms and functions.” In Science, Tools and Magic, Part Two: Mundane Worlds, Volume XII Part 2, edited by E. Savage-Smith, 324–333. Oxford: The Nasser D. Khalily Collection of Islamic Art.
Seyrig, H.
1959. “Antiquités syriennes, 75. Flacons? grenades? éolipiles?”Syria 36: 81–89.
Whitcomb, D.
2016. “The Mosques of Mafjar: A Sequence and some implications for understanding Qasr Hisham.” In Proceedings of the 9th Interntional Congress of the Archaeology of he Ancient Near East, Islamic Session, edited by D. Genequand, 469–478. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
Whitcomb, D., and H. Taha.
2013. “Khirbat al-Mafjar and its place in the archaeological heritage of Palestine.” Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies 1: 54–65. https://doi.org/10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.1.1.0054
Williams, G.
n.d. “A cooking installation at Khirbet al-Mafjar." Presentation at ASOR meetings, Atlanta, 2015.
Published
2017-02-15
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Whitcomb, D. (2017). A Note on “Grenades” as Fire-starter Flasks. Journal of Islamic Archaeology, 3(2), 179-186. https://doi.org/10.1558/jia.v3i2.32825
