Spear Butt, Brass Letter Opener

A spear butt covers the end of a spear that touches the ground. This particularly fine example bears an inscription. We created copies of this wonderful piece of art, that can be used as a letter opener, too. A unique historical item, made of brass, for collectors and a magnificent piece to decorate your office.

Area: Ancient Olympia
Dimensions (WxHxD): 27 cm x 2,5 cm
Gross Weight: 307 gr
Includes: Gift packaging - Description Greek & English
Material: Brass
Weight: 300 gr

The largest collection of ancient weapons known today, mainly late Geometric and Archaic, has come from Olympia. Weapons were by far the most suitable gift to Zeus, who presided over the fortunes of the competitors in the Olympic Games at Olympia, just as he presided over the outcome of battle elsewhere.

The offerings of cities from booty taken in victorious campaigns, or of individuals from their personal panoplies are not only tangible and incontestable evidence of actual historic events, thanks to the inscriptions so often engraved upon them, they enlarge our knowledge of the art of war as practised by the ancient Greeks. In addition, their decoration makes a rich contribution to the depiction of myths and many possess particular artistic merit.

A spear or a dory was the chief armament of hoplites (heavy infantry) in ancient Greece and it was a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head and a spear butt. A spear butt covered the end of a spear that touches the ground.

There is speculation as to the purpose of this feature. In addition to its role as a stabilizer, the spear butt could serve as a secondary weapon. While the spear butt could have been useful in finishing wounded enemy soldiers lying on the ground, it would have had great utility during an active confrontation as well. Another use of the feature might have been that by lodging the spear butt into the ground a hoplite may have been able to stand the dory upright.

Like many weapons, a spear was a symbol of power.The spear is the main weapon of the warriors of Homer's Iliad. In classical Greek mythology Zeus' bolts of lightning may be interpreted as a symbolic spear. Also, Athena was depicted with a spear.