Ancient Greek Bronze Arrowhead - 40 mm

"Ancient Greek Bronze Arrowhead

Culture / Period: Ancient Greek
Date / Period: c. 5th–4th century B.C.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 40 mm
Condition: Good condition.

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 810

The current owner purchased the Ancient Greek Bronze Arrowhead from a private collector in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

The previous owner, a private collector (N.N.) from Utrecht, the Netherlands, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been part of a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:

This cast bronze arrowhead belongs to the Classical Greek period and is characterised by its leaf-shaped blade, pronounced central midrib, and socketed base with a surviving side spur. The socket was designed to receive a wooden arrow shaft, while the lateral spur helped secure the binding, creating a durable and reliable projectile suitable for repeated military use.

Bronze socketed arrowheads of this type were widely employed by Greek city-states during the 5th and 4th centuries B.C. They equipped both infantry archers and specialist missile troops and also remained in use among neighbouring peoples throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Their aerodynamic leaf-shaped form offered an effective balance between penetration and structural strength.

These arrowheads were produced by casting molten bronze in reusable moulds, allowing workshops to manufacture large quantities of standardised military equipment. The widespread distribution of such weapons reflects the sophisticated organisation of Greek warfare and the extensive exchange of military technology across the Mediterranean world.

Dating to approximately the 5th–4th century B.C., this example belongs to the era of the Classical Greek city-states, when archery formed an important component of battlefield tactics alongside heavily armed hoplites. Similar arrowheads have been recovered from settlements, military sites, and battlefields throughout Greece and neighbouring regions.

This piece provides a direct and tangible connection to the ancient Greek world, where weapons of this kind formed an essential part of military equipment and illustrate the craftsmanship, organisation, and martial traditions of Classical antiquity."